Cape Ann Dive Team FACTS

Started to form team in July of 1996 after numerous water related accidents on Cape Ann. This was prior to either the F/V Heather Lynne tragedy or the West Wharf apartment complex falling into the harbor.

Ultimately the team is to consist of 20 volunteer divers composed of public safety personnel from all of the Cape Ann communities. Presently divers have volunteered from Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, and Essex.

Even if a team member is already a certified diver he or she must complete retraining to the team’s standards. This was deemed necessary to ensure that all divers are trained to the appropriate advanced level and to encourage team building. This training is a composite of standards acquired from professional dive rescuers from across the country and is being provided by professional certified instructors from Undersea Divers in Beverly.

All team members are VOLUNTEERS.

All team members must be medically certified to at least the Emergency Medical Technician Basic(EMT-B) level. One team member is already a Paramedic (EMT-P) with another member presently attending Paramedic school. This cross-training allows for immediate on-scene medical treatment that is not available with any other area dive team. Our dive truck is equipped with all necessary first-aid equipment to allow these cross-trained divers to apply their medical training at an incident as well.

This team has written support and is presently working with existing dive teams from the Beverly Fire Dept., Salem Police Dept., Merrimac Valley Dive Rescue, and the State Police.

This team has written statements of support from former Gloucester Mayor Bruce Tobey, Gloucester Fire Chief Barry McKay, Gloucester Firefighters Local 762, and the governing bodies of Rockport, Manchester, and Essex.

Unfortunately, our greatest fear is to be called upon to perform a rescue, but to be unable to do so because of lack of equipment and training. It is not realistic to expect people to perform rescues with a hodgepodge of personal, loaned, and castoff equipment. Before any diver goes in the water for even the most basic reason he must have confidence in the equipment he is working with. This team is adamant that the standardization of gear is just as important as the standardization of the diver’s training. To that end we have a standardized diver equipment list and have purchased ten required diver setups. It cost the team roughly $50,000.00 to fully equip our divers to work safely year round regardless of water temp or weather conditions. In order to carry all our dive equipment in one vehicle the Cape Ann Regional Dive Team has converted a donated ambulance into a Dive Truck that is permanently stationed inside of the West Gloucester fire station.

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