Indiana DNR diver Andrew Harmon finishes his dive and prepares to exit the Waubee Lake waters. (Photo by Keith Knepp)

Representatives from the Warsaw Fire Department, Warsaw Police Department, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Multi-Township EMS were on hand at Waubee Lake south of Milford on Wednesday morning to participate in underwater ice rescue and recovery training.

Multiple divers representing the fire, police and DNR spent 10-minute turns underneath the ice practicing techniques, maneuvers and communications. Each diver was tethered by safety ropes to dive officials perched on the edge of the ice cutout. Also on hand to monitor the dives was a representative of Lake City Scuba, helping to ensure the divers were adequately outfitted and prepared for their turn in the frigid water.

“We try to do these exercises about once a month when the lakes are adequately frozen,” said Warsaw Fire Department Cpt. Dave Vercauteren. ” We also do drills inside in pools, but being able to dive outside under ice gives our guys great training. Ice diving obviously is different than regular diving as it produces more significant mental and physical stresses on the divers.”

He added that each diver is carefully harnessed using a sophisticated carabiner system along with a communication device that allows constant contact with those on the surface.

“Obviously, safety is our biggest concern when were doing these drills,” added Warsaw Police Department Sgt. Joe Hawn, who was overseeing the mornings operations. He noted that even if the diver’s electronic devices fail for some reason, they are trained to communicate with each other using a ‘tugging’ system on the dive ropes.

The group started their exercises around 9 a.m. and finished at noon.