Formed in 1991 by members of the department and companies, was created as the BFD Dive or SCUBA team specializing in mostly subsurface rescues and based on recreation diving adapted to rescues. Early on, the team was one of the largest in Suffolk County based on certified divers. In 2000, the fire district purchased a 19' zodiac hurricane 580 rescue boat. This was to be used in conjunction with the smaller 10' avon rescue boat which was not sufficient for offshore rescues in the Great South Bay. Soon the department found their water rescue alarms went from about 1 or 2 per year to between 30 and 40. Quickly the squad reorganized itself and started advanced training in Public Safety Diving, Surface Rescues and Ice Rescues with nationally recognized certifications. In 2005 two major steps were taken with the squad: first, a new truck committee was established and a bid contract was awarded to Marion Body works of Wisconsin to build a specialized custom water rescue truck (which was delivered in May 2006), and second, the Zodiac was outfitted with a custom top, larger windshield, custom grab rails, radar, new GPS, new fire radios and new lighting. With mutual aide plans, the response area of the water rescue team has grown to Patchogue Bay to the east to Heckscher State Park to the west and south to Fire Island.