Inside Marine, Dive and Trails’ Ice Week training

(Ottawa) – Beneath the frozen surface, members of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Marine, Dive and Trails (MDT) Unit took part in Ice Week, held February 23 to 26.

Hosted by the OPS MDT Unit, the annual training brought together dive teams from across Ontario, including the Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police and Niagara Regional Police Service. Ice Week allows officers to sharpen ice recovery skills in a controlled environment while learning from one another’s expertise.

Training for high-risk conditions

Ice diving is one of policing’s most demanding specialties, often conducted in freezing temperatures and near-zero visibility. Safety is paramount; every scenario includes a fully equipped stand-by diver, ready to enter the water if needed.

Officers also participate in realistic “shams,” or mock emergencies. A diver may be cued to simulate a medical crisis, such as decompression sickness, requiring the team to respond, extract and transfer them to a stretcher, just as they would in a real-life situation.

Specialized roles and equipment

Under Ontario legislation, municipal police dive teams are limited to depths of 100 feet. OPS divers use a surface-supplied air system tethered to the surface, while also carrying backup tanks for added safety.

The Ottawa Paramedic Service is embedded within the MDT team, conducting pre- and post-dive medical checks and supporting any dive-related emergencies.

Ice operations in Ottawa involve distinct mandates: the Ottawa Fire Service focuses on rescue, while OPS MDT carries out recovery operations, providing answers and closure to families after tragedy.

Fun fact: Due to water pressure, divers’ voices can sound noticeably higher-pitched, sometimes described as “chipmunk-like,” over their communications systems.

For more information about the OPS Marine, Dive and Trails Unit, visit ottawapolice.ca/MDT or follow @OttawaPoliceMDT on Instagram.

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