The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

White Salmon man earns award

Divers practice in icy conditions

Photo courtesy of SKSO

ICEY HOLE — Eleven new students recently participated in a National Underwater Ice Diving Certification Training, hosted in part by the Skamania County Dive Team. In addition, members of the Skamania’s dive team completed a refresher ice training.

February 19, 2013

Two weekends ago, the Skamania County Sheriff's Office Dive Team, along with the Wasco County Sheriff's Office hosted a National Underwater Ice Diving Certification Training for professional dive teams.

Eleven students came in from surrounding agencies and as far away as Astoria, Ore., and one from California.

The training consisted of two and a half days of lecture and ice diving practicals. The training was held at the boy scout camp at Lake Baldwin on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Three professional advanced ice diving instructors, Jim Larsen, N/W N.A.U.I. Rep.; Dennis Lucia, Nisqually Aquatics Commercial Divers; and Floyd Holcom, Astoria Scuba; led the group through a series of rescue scenarios and drills. Several members of the Skamania County Dive Team also assisted making the training for students a success.

On Sunday, the remaining Skamania County Dive Team participated in their teams refresher ice training. After the weekend, 13 members of the Skamania County Dive Team are now certified and trained in advanced ice rescues.

S.C.S.O. dive team member John Deo of White Salmon was also recognized and presented a merit coin for his 10 years of community dive team service.

"John has been a great asset to our team and truly a valuable member serving the citizens and guests of the Columbia River Gorge," said Sgt. Arne Gonser, dive team leader.