The Dive Team (or Marine Response Team) as it has become known is a fully mobile rapid deployment SCUBA/Water Rescue and Recovery Team. The team comprises personnel from various civilian and military diving/water rescue backgrounds.

The team operates the following equipment

• 1 heavy response vehicle
• 2 first response suburbans
• 1 first response beach truck
• 1 twenty seven foot RHIB rescue boat
• 1 side scan (underwater search/recovery)
• 1 twenty seven foot grady white rescue boat
• 2 Hurricane quick response boats
• 1 Zodiac shallow draft rescue boat
• 3 SUV jet ski's
• 3 ATV's inland and beach operations

Members are on call 24/7, 365 days a year. All team applicants must pass the following Physical Fitness test in order to ensure the team maintains a high degree of readiness in all seasons and conditions.

• 800 yard swim in 20 minutes of less
• 25 yards underwater swim
• 20 minutes treading water
• 20 lbs. weight retrieval
• 42 push-ups within two minutes
• 50 sit-ups within two minutes
• 6 pull-ups

The Virginia Beach Rescue and Recovery Dive Team has approximately 70 members. These Divers and Water Rescue Specialists come from all walks of life, active duty military, civilian professionals and the public safety environment. All dive members come with the desire to serve and be part of the action. However, each member of the dive Team is also a Volunteer within the the EMS service. To be a member of the dive team requires a great deal of time for training, physical demands (and physical tests) especially in the first year to certify as a public safety Diver. Once a month classes are provided both classroom and practical to keep up current techniques and recertification requirements.

The Dive Team responds to about 220 requests for service yearly. These requests vary from inland lakes, ponds, ditches and surrounding tidal waters. The VB EMS Dive Team is also on call to respond to requests by east coast law and rescue departments for search and recovery operations.

We welcome contacts by any law enforcement or rescue agency seeking to be on our mutual aide roster... providing you with password access to our online database and contacts directory. This will ensure you have 24 hour access to VB Dive Team officers who can activate our mutual aide system sending divers and equipment to your city or county for recovery assistance.