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Marquette Today
By the People, for the People
Marquette County Sheriff's Office Trains for Diving Operations in Teal Lake
Deputies practice ice diving to prepare for potential winter emergencies
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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The Marquette County Sheriff's Office conducted ice diving training in Teal Lake this week, as deputies geared up in wet suits and protective layers to practice diving under 30 inches of ice. The training is an annual exercise to ensure the department is prepared and proficient in case they are needed for a winter water rescue emergency.
Why it matters
Ice diving training is crucial for the Marquette County Sheriff's Office to maintain readiness for potential emergencies on frozen lakes and waterways during the winter months. This type of specialized training helps ensure deputies can safely and effectively respond to incidents where someone has fallen through the ice.
The details
During the training, deputies were tied to ropes to avoid getting lost under the ice, and they communicated with each other and colleagues on the surface using communication units in their face masks. Undersheriff Lowell Larson said the hardest part is the preparation, such as cutting a triangle into the ice for the divers to enter the water. Corporal Michael Thomas emphasized the importance of the public taking safety precautions when venturing onto frozen lakes, such as using equipment that floats and wearing crampons.
- The Marquette County Sheriff's Office conducts this ice diving training annually as the weather warms up.
The players
Lowell Larson
Undersheriff of the Marquette County Sheriff's Office.
Michael Thomas
Corporal with the Marquette County Sheriff's Office.
What they’re saying
“Every year we do an ice dive as a training to be ready and proficient, in case we are needed in the wintertime.”
— Lowell Larson, Undersheriff (uppermichiganssource.com)
“The prep is the hard part. Today, we have about 30 inches of ice.”
— Lowell Larson, Undersheriff (uppermichiganssource.com)
“If you're going to be on the ice, try to buy equipment that floats, or make sure you have crampons if you do fall in; be able to extricate yourself.”
— Michael Thomas, Corporal (uppermichiganssource.com)
What’s next
The Marquette County Sheriff's Office will continue to monitor ice conditions and be prepared to respond to any emergencies that may arise on frozen waterways this winter.
The takeaway
The Marquette County Sheriff's Office's commitment to regular ice diving training demonstrates their dedication to public safety and their ability to effectively respond to winter water emergencies, which is crucial for a community surrounded by frozen lakes and waterways.
