The Dive Team started in 1972 with the members using basic SCUBA diving equipment and very little training. Most of the equipment belonged to the members themselves. Eventually, the Sheriffs Department began purchasing tanks and other more modern equipment. Currently, the Dive Team consists of nine members, a sergeant and a lieutenant. The Team’s duties are to recover evidence, drowning victims, assist in investigations involving items being placed into the water and swift water rescues. The Dive Team trains on a monthly basis. On the average the Dive Team responds to 20 to 25 calls a year. Sometimes dive calls are as easy as recovering a partially submerged car, or as complex as an extensive search in zero visibility water fighting swift currents and unknown hazards.

Dive Team members have been trained and qualified in open water diving, advanced open water diving, search and rescue, advanced search and rescue and swift water rescue. All members complete a course in Public Safety Diving, through a nationally recognized Public Safety Diving training agency. Some of the members have other specialized training that they either procured themselves or gained through the Sheriffs Department. The Dive Team is currently listed as an OES Type 2 Dive Team.

In the past, when the Dive Team was called out, only two divers were authorized to respond. One member would dive while the other manned the lines and acted as a safety diver on the shore. Signals were sent between the diver and the team member on the shore by "tugs" on the rope. Sometimes the fire department or other patrol deputies were dispatched to assist the divers on the call, but this wasn’t always the case. This procedure has since changed. The Dive Team will now respond with the appropriate resources required to bring the mission to a safe, successful conclusion.

The Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department will also respond on hazardous dives, or dives that are expected to be of long duration. The fire department has the capabilities to fill the air tanks at the scene. This gives the divers an unlimited air supply in the event it is needed. With the reservoir unit available at the lakes and their immediate response to the scene of a drowning, the chances of recovering the bodies or property are greatly increased. The reservoirs have seen a decrease in the number of drowning calls, possibly due to the combined efforts of both the dive team and the reservoir unit.

Due to the level of training and expertise possessed by members of the Dive Team, the Team is often requested by neighboring counties for mutual aid.

Being on the dive team isn’t recreation diving. The dive team members put in a lot of training, self-discipline and time to make each dive a successful and safe one.

During the past few years the team has seen big improvements in the equipment both in safety and technology. New departmental policies have been implemented to make dive call-outs safer and more efficient. The new "high Tech" equipment recently acquired includes a tethered three-way communication system. Two divers can be utilized at one time with the third diver running the console and managing the dive, while the other divers are available to dive when divers need a rest. Another piece of new equipment is the Aga Full Face Mask with both wireless and hardwired communication capabilities. The vulcanized rubber Dry Suits, shown in the photos, protect the diver from contact with contaminated water. A “Sector Scanning” sonar, donated by the Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund, has been obtained and training is ongoing to make each member proficient in its use. The sonar unit will assist in locating “Targets of Interest”, which will be further investigated by a diver as the possible subject of their mission. The team is also in the process of getting other "high tech" equipment to assist in searching and enhance the divers safety.

If you are involved in an incident where the dive team may be activated, your observations of the occurrence will be greatly appreciated. This will make the investigation of the incident and recovery proceed smoother and will possibly decrease the amount of time involved by the dive team and other involved agencies.