Matt Hoina suited up and hit the water for his training session with the Apex Fire Department Dive Team.

"I love being in the water," Hoina said.

The dive team has 21 members, all certified in public safety diving. Hoina said the group is an integral part of the fire department.

"People call us in a time of need so we need to be there," Hoina said.

Battalion Chief Michael Beasley said they are the only department-based dive team in Wake County. They participate in about five searches a year, but have been busy in the last month.

"In the last couple of weeks we have had two callouts for drowning," Chief Beasley.

One of the biggest challenges for divers is searching in what they call "black water".

"You can't see three inches in front of your face," Hoina said.

But they say that's where their communication system becomes a necessity.

"Having voice communication does ease the stress level on the diver and allows for people on the surface to know what's going on," Chief Beasley said.

The ropes that they use are not only strong enough to lift a diver out of the water; it also has small wires inside which are part of the communications system.

"The line being tied to the diver allows the back up diver to follow the diver down to where the other is located," Chief Beasley said.

Beasley said the dive team provides more than just a public service.

"We're providing closure in terms of the recovery. We also get to the victim with more dignity than the old way of dragging, where they hook the victim and pull them up. It's rather gruesome," Chief Beasley said.