Our History

Founded in 1947, the unit was initially organized to provide volunteer assistance in the recovery of drowning victims. Since then, the unit has expanded its operations to include search and recovery. Over the years the unit has responded to more than 600 drowning and over 1000 search and recovery operations for various departments, agencies and private individuals. In fulfilling these missions, the unit serves Eastern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. The unit is the only volunteer dive operation in the world to utilize four different Surface Supplied Diving Systems in conjunction with SCUBA. Through training and practice, the unit has become proficient in the use of its equipment and is able to operate in many different water conditions. The unit has rescued people from rain swollen streams, helped free trapped motor vehicle occupants and recovered victims from very deep quarries. The unit provides rescue personnel for major water events and conducts community water safety programs.

Rescue & Recovery

The original function of the dive unit was to recover drowning victims. Since 1947, the unit has trained and prepared itself for many different types of rescues and recoveries. The unit has trained their divers in the use of four Surface Supplied Diving Systems: the hard hat Mark V the hard hat Mark 12 the Kirby Morgan Band Mask (KMB-10) and the new Kirby Morgan SL-27. All these systems use hoses and lines to send air and both voice and line pull communications to the diver from the topside, shoreline or dive platform. The unit also utilizes SCUBA, which affords the diver more mobility in areas that are not accessible to the other diving systems. Other rescue equipment used by the dive unit includes powered inflatable boats, a lightweight aluminum boat with a jet drive motor, line systems, rescue lines, ice rescue suits and other specialized gear.

For more information on the different types of diving equipment TDU utilizes, please click on the links below.


Mark V
Mark 12
Kirby Morgan Band Mask 10 - no longer in production, replace by KMB18B
Kirby Morgan SL-27
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)

Specialized Services

The unit provides various specialized services to the community by assisting agencies and departments. The unit works with law enforcement agencies to locate evidence and clues that help solve crimes and resolve other incidents. Unit personnel are trained in observing, handling, and documenting evidence. The unit also supports fire departments by refilling air packs. The unit has an air compressor and three separate cascade air storage systems, two of which are mobile. When dispatched, the unit will take a mobile cascade to the scene and refill air packs on location, saving time and possibly lives. The unit also responds to emergency calls from public facilities, to inspect or temporarily repair a dangerous situation.