It was not the best weekend for hiking, swimming, baseball, and many outdoor activities.

For many members of Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR), however, it was perfect weather. With water in Lake Lillinonah at less than 40 degrees on Sunday, it was “brisk,” according to NUSAR Chief Michael McCarthy, for those who went into the water. NUSAR conducted a two-day training session at the Hanover Road boat launch, completing everything by midday February 21.

“The water temperature isn’t bad,” McCarthy said late Sunday morning. “It’s those of us standing on the shore, in the breeze and wind, who are freezing.”

NUSAR certified five members of its team for ice diving last weekend, bringing the total to nine certified divers on the locally based dive rescue team.

Zach Marchetti, Adam Mack, and Hunter Peterson completed Scuba Diving International (SDI) training through Connecticut Scuba Academy. Sarah Corraco and Chris Corraco completed Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) training through Hamden Scuba training the same morning.

The two-day class requires a minimum of three dives, McCarthy said. Divers are allowed no more than two dives per day, he added.

While different agencies led the certification, McCarthy confirmed that all dive agencies teach to a common standard.

There is a classroom session about two hours long “to go over ice dive gear and site setup,” McCarthy explained this week. “After that, three dives are done over two days. The last dive is a lost diver rescue scenario.”

Sunday’s conditions were great for what the team needed.

“We had about 7 inches of ice — 3 inches of clear ice and 4 of snow ice — and water temp about 36 degrees,” McCarthy said. Visibility was “very good,” he added, pointing out that divers last weekend could see between six and eight feet out.

Lake Lillinonah normally offers about one to two feet of visibility, he noted.

All divers were in full drysuits with fleece undergarments. They were additionally outfitted with full face masks with voice communications.

The average dive time was 15 to 20 minutes.

The team had some onlookers during Sunday’s training. Some were family members of NUSAR team members, others were curious members of the public, and others were representatives of town boards and commissions, including First Selectman Dan Rosenthal.

Board of Finance member John Madzula was among those on the shore Sunday. Bundled up against the wind and seasonal temperatures, Madzula was in awe of those volunteering to go into the water that morning.

“It’s amazing, watching them,” he said. “It’s not something everyone realizes we have, but it’s good to know these folks are here if we need them.”

Founded in 1989, NUSAR is an all volunteer emergency response team dedicated to saving lives through search and rescue operations. Members are professionally trained for water rescue and recovery incidents.

NUSAR also promotes water safety awareness education. Through its life jacket loaner program, NUSAR lends life jackets free of charge for children for a day or weekend. Call 203-270-4390 or visit nusar.org/life-jacket-program for additional information or to schedule a loan.

Applications for new members are being accepted. NUSAR strongly encourages new members be certified open water divers or higher, although nondivers are also welcome on the team.

Individuals must be “relatively fit; capable of lifting 100 pounds and passing an annual dive physical,” according to its website.

General meetings are the second Monday of each month. Training is the third Sunday of each month, with alternate drills on Thursday evenings during the summer.

NUSAR is online at nusar.org and can be contacted at 203-270-4390 or info@nusar.org. The team is also on Facebook (NewtownDiveRescue) and Instagram (@newtown_dive_rescue).