SCUBA Unit
The New York State Police SCUBA Unit is the oldest public safety dive team in the United States. Operating since 1932, its 65 members are spread out over eight Troops (excluding Long Island, NYC and the NYS Thruway) in Upstate New York. The NYSP Dive Team is one of the largest dive teams in the country and regularly provides its specialized services to communities and law enforcement agencies across the state. When not assigned to a dive detail, NYSP divers perform regular patrol and administrative duties.
Today's NYSP SCUBA Unit's capabilities far exceed those of the original hard hat, surface supplied air divers of the 1930's. With its arsenal of 16 available boats, including two airboats, and a multitude of high tech underwater electronic search equipment, the NYSP Dive Team is able to respond to boat accidents, accidental drownings, flood emergencies, swift water rescues and a multitude of other water related emergencies.
NYSP Dive Team Statistics
| 2011 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Outside agencies assisted | 46 | 49 |
| Total Details | 201 | 196 |
| Total individual dives | 1291 | 1384 |
| Victims Recovered | 12 | 19 |
| Rescues | 98 | 1 |
| Individual pieces of evidence recovered | 87 | 40 |
| Vehicles recovered | 9 | 6 |
| Weapons recovered | 13 | 14 |
| Aircraft recovered | 1 | 1 |
| Community Services Initiative (lecture, demo, etc.) | 19 | 33 |
| Total value of property recovered | $398,525 | $198,420 |