I'm with the Lee County Sheriff's Office Underwater Operations Unit. As previously mentioned by other dive unit members, we have similar responsibiliites.
Additionally, we do public presentations and demos, for public and private events. Its great because it brings awareness to our job and the need for it. My county is on the Gulf coast of Florida and we also have rivers, lakes, ponds, bays, estuaries, and canals that we dive in regularly.
We also conduct hull searches for parasitic devices and contraband of commercial and industrial ships, frieghters, shrimping and gaming boats, etc.
All our equipment is department issue, as well as cost of the training.
And as somebody asked, Yes, you have to be a member of our agency to be considered for the dive team. You also have to be at least an advanced open water diver with a minumum of 50 logged dives. Physical and written tests are part of the selection process. New members are then trained to Rescue, Search & Recovery, Law Enforcement Diver, and NAPD Police Diver certs.
Our boss is a PADI instructor. And several of us are working on our DM's. Training is a constant thing with us.
Its basically a dirty job that I wouldn't trade for all the olive oil in Sicily.