Volunteer rescue divers in Oman receive award from PACDA

Muscat: Volunteers who help in underwater search and rescue missions have been recognised for their efforts by Oman's emergency services.
The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) awarded the Oman Diving team an award yesterday in appreciation of ODT's efforts in recovering the body of a drowning victim in Liwa, Battinah. The search took two days, according to PACDA and ODT.
"The victim drowned on the 8^th of July, around 5 in the afternoon. We joined in on the 9^th, and believe that the victim was recovered on the 10^th."
Lieutenant-Colonel Ahmed Muhammed al Ajmi, director of PACDA in Northern Battinah, gave the award to Walled Khalfan al Kaabi, Supervisor of the team, according to a statement by PACDA.
This is not the first time ODT has assisted the government, explains diving instructor Saleh al-Ajmi.
"There have two points we focus on: environmental work, which we still do. Most often, we dive underwater to clear up nets that become stuck in coral reefs. We also dive near ports to remove plastic wastes that visitors drop into the water.
"Secondly, we also work with PACDA to help recover bodies whenever we hear of a drowning. It’s happened on more than one case. We assisted in Saham, we assisted in Sawadi, when someone drowned there. Lately, we’ve also assisted in Liwa.
"As a team, we work often in raising the efficieny of diving-related work and resuscitation in other teams. We've done courses in Sur, right now that’s the farthest we traveled to do these training courses."
"Our Headquarters are in Sohar, as an official team belonging to Sohar's sport centre. But that's just a geographical headquarters.We do a lot of work all over the sultunate, and we're always looking for any governmental agencies or research companies that need volunteer divers."