Dive Team
With 24 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, over 30 miles of the Grand River, and numerous inland lakes and streams, Ottawa County is a haven for aquatic recreation. Citizens and visitors alike can rest assured the County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team & Marine Patrol Units are out on the water to serve and protect the seafaring public.
Because not all trouble happens on the surface, the Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue Team provides a critical service. Made up of Road Patrol and Corrections Deputies, the 12-member Dive Rescue Team is called upon in emergency situations when life is threatened in any body of water. Additionally, they provide underwater recovery efforts for fatalities and submerged vehicles. Team members are also responsible for investigating, locating and securing evidence in criminal investigations.
Dive team members are trained to operate in challenging environments such as:
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Zero visibility conditions
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River currents
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Under-ice diving
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Night operations
To ensure diver safety and enhance operational effectiveness, the team is equipped with dry suits, full-face AGA masks, and wireless diver-to-surface communication systems. The team also employs advanced search and recovery tools including side-scan sonar, an underwater camera, and an underwater metal detector.
