Ottawa Police Divers Train for the Most Dangerous Conditions: Under the Ice
It's not the kind of job most of us would volunteer for. But for Ottawa Police's dive unit and their counterparts from Quebec, heading into icy water is a matter of professional readiness — and their recent training session at Morrison Quarry in West Carleton was a reminder of just how demanding that work is.
Why Train in Ice?
Police dive teams are called in for search-and-recovery operations, evidence recovery, and in emergency situations where someone has fallen through ice. In a city like Ottawa, where the Rideau River, Ottawa River, and dozens of lakes freeze every winter, icy-water scenarios aren't hypothetical — they're an annual reality.
Ice diving presents hazards that don't exist in warmer conditions. Visibility drops to near zero. Dry suits can fail. The risk of hypothermia is immediate. Navigating under a sheet of ice with limited light and a tether line back to the surface requires intense training and complete trust in your team.
Morrison Quarry: Ottawa's Dive Training Ground
Morrison Quarry, located about 40 minutes west of Ottawa near Carp, is one of the region's go-to locations for dive training. The deep, clear water makes it ideal for practicing techniques in controlled but realistic conditions. Police teams from both Ontario and Quebec used the site this winter to run joint exercises.
Cross-Border Collaboration
The inclusion of Quebec divers is notable. Emergency response along the Ottawa River often requires coordination across provincial lines — if someone goes through the ice near the interprovincial bridges, it may not be clear which jurisdiction leads the response. Training together means both teams understand each other's protocols when it counts.
An Underappreciated Role
Police dive teams rarely get the spotlight, but their work is essential. The next time you cross the Rideau in winter and see a police presence at the water's edge, know that the people in the dry suits have spent long, cold hours preparing for exactly that moment.
Source: CBC Ottawa
