DIVE TEAM FOR THE SHERIFF’S DIVE TEAM,
responded to downtown San Luis Obispo for a transient found floating in
boat was then demolished and then
the creek under the Broad Street bridge.
taken to the landfill.
The subject drowned, and the incident was not declared to be suspicious. It is
2021 was a busier year than the previous one. Due to COVID-19 restrictions lifting, Sheriff Dive team members were able
believed that the man went into the water, possibly had a medical event take place, and was unable to
to start training again.
self-rescue.
Throughout the year there were 11
The second call-out was also to assist
training sessions, and an annual administration meeting. In addition, three out of the 6 community outreach programs the team normally participates in were up and running. There were three call-outs during 2021, which resulted in one recovery.
excavator, and front-wheel loader. The
The third call-out was to assist State Parks off the coast of Estero Bluffs in Cayucos. A hiker on a cold December morning was hiking along the bluffs when she noticed a portion of a sailboat lying on shore amongst the rocks and crashing waves. She also found several
another agency’s call. During the month
articles of both male and female
of November, 12 Dive Team Members
clothing. The Coast Guard and Morro
spent two days, and 50-man hours
Bay Harbor Patrol searched offshore
underwater, helping Morro Bay Harbor
while the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue
Patrol salvage a derelict 40-foot-long
teams scoured the shoreline for other
fishing boat from the bottom of the
debris as well as possible victims. Upon
harbor. The “Lady Maxine” weighed
locating the rest of the submerged
40,000 pounds, and the craft was
vessel approximately 200 yards
The Dive Team is made up of 27
located less than 100 yards from the
offshore the Sheriff’s Dive team was
members, including one commander,
Morro Bay public launch ramp. Dive
called out. Arriving on the scene by
one sergeant, 7 deputy sheriffs, one
Team Members attached a dozen lift
boat, two of the team’s members
reserve deputy and 13 civilian
bags capable of exerting 20,000 pounds
conducted a free dive down to the
volunteers. Due to a retirement, the
of lift to the vessel with chains and
wreck and determined that there were
team was assigned a new sergeant.
come-alongs. The bags were inflated
no victims in, on or around the wreck.
with air through 600 feet of compressor
The case is still under investigation by
hose, and a manifold brought the vessel
State Parks.
CALL OUTS
to the surface. “The Lady Maxine” was
The first call-out was to assist another agency’s call for San Luis Police Department. In August, Dive Team Members
then towed to the launch ramp where it was pulled up onto shore by an
LEAD THE WAY ANNUAL REPORT 2021
57
