Fire & Emergency Service's Dive Team

Mission

Water-related incidents require an advanced level of technical knowledge, skill, and expertise to be resolved favorably. We strive to achieve and maintain the capabilities needed to effectively and safely assist the public in times of need, in responding with law enforcement agencies to water recovery/investigative efforts, and in performing water-related public service projects.

The Columbia County Fire Rescue Dive Team is comprised of civilian/citizens and fire department personnel that are all volunteer. The Dive Team members are trained under a globally recognized certification process to be able to voluntarily conduct and perform underwater search / recovery operations. Some of the Dive Team members are trained to the Public Safety Driver certification, which is the national standard for Rescue Dive Teams.

Besides conducting search and rescue operations, the Dive Team members perform public safety demonstrations, forensic underwater searches for physical evidence, stand by as safety personnel for public water events.

The Columbia County Dive Team covers hundreds of ponds within the county, 15 miles of the Savannah River and 111 square miles of Lake Thurmond. The Dive Team has 5 watercraft in which to conduct a range of operations, to include a fire boat for firefighting operations from the water.

Other team capabilities are as follows, cold water dry suit diving, full face mask with underwater communications, sonar search with boats.

The Columbia County Fire Rescue Dive Team will also respond to other governmental agencies to provide mutual aid if called upon.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Dive Rescue and Recovery Team, please complete the Dive Team Complete Application Online Form (PDF) and return it to Columbia County Fire Operations. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please call 706-863-7745.