Dive Rescue International is an organization based in Fort Collins, CO that specializes in training and equipment for Public Safety scuba divers. Three scuba divers from the Apex Fire Department (Mike Beasley, Sue-Lynn Hinson and Matt Donaldson) attended Dive Rescue Level I, an introduction to dive rescue and recovery operations. The 24-hour weekend class was hosted by the Alamance County Rescue team and included some intense practicals and scenarios at Graham-Mebane Lake. We got plenty of practice doing search patterns and simulated recoveries in 0-visibility waters.

On the final day of class we simulated an incident in which three, possibly four victims had gone underwater some distance from shore. While the instructor was at the lake setting up the scenario, our team was busy back at the classroom devising a strategy.	The instructor made our scenario as close to real-life as possible, and even went so far as to have the local media on-scene interviewing the dive team members. Unfortunately for some like me whose public speaking skills are lacking, our interviews actually made the nightly news! Here Mike Beasley is being asked what it was like to have found two of the "victims".	Team leader David Peed (Camp LeJeune Fire Department) had a lot on his mind. As Incident Commander, he was responsible for ensuring the safety of all personnel, allocating resources, implementing a strategy to find the victims, analyzing the team's effectiveness and making any necessary adjustments, and much more.
Tony Steele (Alamance County Rescue) discusses the incident with one of the reporters.	Divers prepare to enter the water to continue the shore-based sweep search pattern.	Instructor Jim Andrews (center) surveys the scene with other rescue team members.