Dive Team

The City of Mercer Island is centrally located in Lake Washington, between the Cities of Seattle and Bellevue. Surrounded by water, it is witness to a growing population and activity level on the lake. By virtue of this fact, it has necessitated the need for water rescue, recovery, and investigative services.

The Mercer Island Police and Fire Departments provide these services to the City of Mercer Island, its Marine Patrol contract cities of Bellevue and Renton and to any other jurisdiction at their request. The team was created in 1976 within the Mercer Island Police Department. Originally there were 8 Police Divers. Primarily the Police Department provided recovery and investigative services. In 1985, the Mercer Island Fire Division was added to the dive team to create a Department of Public Safety Dive Team. Collectively each group brings the strengths of their profession to the team, enhancing the services available to the community.

Today, the team is comprised of 7 Police Officers and 6 Firefighters who are trained and certified as Rescue Divers. The divers are trained to the recreational level to begin with then receive further training from NOAA and Dive Rescue International.  Each also receive training in surface and swift water rescue.  The team train monthly to maintain their skills and are required to complete medical exams yearly.  These exams certify the divers to the commercial level by a physician in hyperbaric medicine. Team members must also qualify annually by successfully completing an extensive swimming test.

Dive operations are a complex technical service. Each operation requires a thorough risk/benefit analysis. This process is completed prior to divers entering the water. It is essential to determine if the mode is rescue, recovery and/or investigation and the risks associated with the dive or water operation.   

One of the most difficult aspects of dive operations within Lake Washington is regarding visibility and communication. Divers must rely on a carefully orchestrated dive plan and communications in limited visibility.  Each diver is equipped with wired and wireless underwater communication gear which has greatly increased the safety and efficiency of dive operations.

There are several other dive agencies in the area. No one agency has the resources to support a large dive incident by themselves. Other regional resources include: The Cities of Renton, Seattle, Auburn and the King County Sheriff’s Office.