NUSAR Members

Complete Dive Drills At Eichler’s Cove

By Kendra Bobowick

A disturbance stirred the lake’s surface at Eichler’s Cove Saturday, September 17. Somewhere below, a diver maneuvered through a search and rescue drill, and as he broke the surface the water churned.

Moving slowly toward the shore, Lee Wassen emerged from cool September water that dripped from his dive mask and tanks.

During a three-day class addressing water skills and rescue scenarios including overturned boats and missing persons, a group spent Saturday afternoon trading positions from the line tender who feeds out rope to a diver underwater, another diver on standby, and a communications person, Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR) team members and fire company members from Trumbull ran through drills with instructor Dave Dangerfield of Florida.

Among NUSAR volunteers at the cove Saturday were the team’s newest member, Jason Culbreth, a retired Navy diver, guest Chris Durnford of Long Island N.Y., Jim Hancock, a corporate head, Mr Wassen, a lieutenant with the federal corrections institute, engineer Dan Tuck, hospice nurse and Kevin’s Community Center Director Linda Pinckney, and NUSAR Chief Mike McCarthy.

A group of Trumbull firefighters also took the weekend course.

Glancing toward the area where Mr Tuck submerged in water reflecting an overcast sky, Mr McCarthy explained, “They are doing sweep patterns,” searching for clay pigeons. Practicing their normal operations, one team member tended the line to the diver, while other members stood ready to take the diver’s place or join the diver if needed.

Quiet at his post and 90 percent prepared to submerge, Mr Culbreth watched the water. Mr McCarthy said, “He just joined Monday and jumped into a spot in the class.”

“That’s the kind of pace I like,” Mr Culbreth said.

Nearby, participants stated instructions including, “Diver has left the surface,” or, “The diver needs more weight.”

Mr Tuck had asked who his tender had been.

Members indicated Mr Culbreth. “Nice job,” Mr Tuck said.

NUSAR, now at 18 members, keeps its volunteers at dive proficiency, Mr McCarthy explained.

Visit the website at www.NUSAR-ct.org to learn more about the emergency response team.