Dive Team

Of the 1190 square miles that Hendry County covers approximately 37 square miles of this is covered by water. These 37 square miles of water include many small ponds and canals as well as a portion of Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River.

The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team handles all underwater investigations for the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office including evidence recovery, body recovery, vehicle recovery, and any other duties requiring specialized in-water response. The dive team is responsible for investigating underwater crime scenes to include scene evaluation, search/recovery of evidence, and proper documentation for courtroom presentation.

Five members representing a diverse cross section of the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office currently man the Dive team. Members are on call twenty four hours a day seven days a week in addition to their primary duties as Patrol Deputies, Canine Handlers, or shift supervisors and perform these duties without extra compensation.

Due to the nature of the work performed by these Deputies the standards for the dive team are high and require extensive training. Each Deputy assigned to the dive team has received extensive training in underwater operations. Members are all certified Public Safety Divers through the Public Safety Diving Association and hold certifications in advanced rescue as well. In addition to these certifications members are required to attend monthly training to help them maintain a standard of proficiency to enhance their safety and to successfully complete missions.