Aquatic Incident Management Systems Training in South Lake Tahoe

https://www.deeptrekker.com/news/aquatic-incident-management-systems-training-in-south-lake-tahoe

Public safety agencies across the United States are increasingly integrating underwater robotics and sonar technology into aquatic search and recovery operations. To support this shift in operational capability, a two-day Aquatic Incident Management Systems (AIMS) training program will take place in South Lake Tahoe, California, April 11–12, 2026.

The training is free for qualified public safety professionals, including police dive teams, sheriff departments, fire rescue units, and search and recovery teams.

Hosted in partnership with Deep Trekker, SKS Solutions, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Boating Safety Officers Association, the program focuses on practical instruction for integrating remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and side-scan sonar into aquatic incident response workflows.

The event will combine classroom sessions with on-water exercises designed to replicate real search and recovery scenarios.

Previous AIMS training sessions have been delivered successfully to agencies in Florida and North Dakota, where dive teams have used the training to refine search procedures and incorporate robotics into their operational capabilities.

The South Lake Tahoe program brings this training opportunity to public safety agencies across the western United States.

What Is Aquatic Incident Management Systems (AIMS) Training?

The Aquatic Incident Management System (AIMS) is a structured training program designed to help public safety agencies manage incidents involving water-based search and recovery operations. The program provides responders with a methodical framework for coordinating personnel, equipment, technology, and operational strategy during aquatic incidents, particularly those involving drowning victims or missing persons.

AIMS builds on the Incident Command System (ICS), the national framework used across the United States for emergency management and multi-agency response. ICS establishes a standardized command structure and common terminology so different agencies can coordinate effectively during complex incidents. By applying this model to aquatic environments, AIMS helps ensure that dive teams, boat operators, sonar technicians, and command staff operate within a unified operational structure. AIMS programs also connect participants with a broader professional network, and provide access to regional and national experts who support agencies implementing aquatic incident management practices in their own jurisdictions.

The training emphasizes planning and coordination as much as field operations. Participants learn how to evaluate incident scenes, determine search priorities, assign resources, and manage information flow between operational teams and command personnel. Another core component of the AIMS framework is technology integration.

The upcoming AIMS training in South Lake Tahoe will provide participants with hands-on experience applying these techniques in realistic operational conditions.