East Rockaway, NY - Members of the East Rockaway Fire Department sharpened their water-rescue skills during a specialized dive training session in Freeport, getting a hands-on lesson in what it takes to support a dive team during an emergency.

On August 18, 2026, firefighters from East Rockaway, Nassau County, New uork, traveled to Freeport to take part in a Dive Tender Training hosted by the Freeport Fire Department’s Dive Squad and Marine Unit.

The training covered the fundamentals of dive tending, underwater search patterns and safe dive operations. Participants also put their newly learned skills into practice through hands-on drills designed to prepare them for real-world emergencies.

Beyond learning the technical side of dive operations, the joint exercise gave firefighters from neighboring departments an opportunity to train side by side. Such coordinated sessions are essential because when an actual dive incident occurs, multiple departments may have to work together quickly and efficiently.

For the firefighters, it was more than just training it was a chance to strengthen teamworl, build confidence and make sure everyone is ready to “dive” into action when duty calls.