The Dive Team is a fully mobile rapid deployment SCUBA/Water Rescue/Recovery response team. The team comprises personnel from various civilian and military diving/water rescue backgrounds. The team operates 5 Dive Trucks, 11 Rescue Apparatus, 27' RHIB's (2), 4 seater Jet Ski's (3), ATV's (3), Hurricanes (2), Zodiac (1) Side Scan Sonar System and other state of the art equipment. This equipment is used to conduct inland and open water and underwater rescues (for the recovery of victims of water related incidents).

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.

DIVE TEAM HISTORY

Commanded by Captain Larry Heninger, the Dive Medic Team was established in August 1991, to administer a program which provides for the immediate response and timely arrival of a specially trained and equipped Dive Team, to respond to requests for rescues involving Drownings, Near-Drownings or Water Related Rescues. 

The Dive Team duties have evolved over the years to include beach patrol on ATV's and off shore patrol during summer months with 3 Jet Ski's to provide water safety and immediate response for near drowning victims. 

In addition, they apply special procedures and search techniques for locating and removing patients from hazards, and provide additional assistance to BLS and ALS personnel when necessary according to medical and operational protocol.