KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A Knoxville group spent their Saturday not only outside in below freezing temperatures, but also spent it in the water!

The Knoxville Volunteer Emergency Rescue Squad suited up for a dive: there were no victims. It was just practice.

"You know what the air temp is?" One of the rescue squad members asked as they headed to the dock.

"Cold!" Another one replied, followed by laughter.

This time, they can laugh.
Another time, in a real emergency, the temperature wouldn't matter.

"It's good to get out in different conditions, and you never know. You've got to be prepared for anything," Steven Slack told Volunteer TV.

Donned in dry suits, two divers practiced what they would do, if they had to come after you.

"[Saturday] it's warmer in the water than it is outside," Slack, a member of the rescue squad, said.

Diving in a dry suit requires more practice, so why let the winter months go by without jumping in?

Slack explained, "The temperature of the water dictates how long we can stay down."

On this day, 10 minutes at a time is long enough.

"We always have a safety diver on the ready who's in full gear and can go down immediately," he continued.

Then it's the next guy's turn.

Rescue squad members know: This isn't just about logging hours.
Diving into Lake Loudoun-- in early January-- is their job.

"If you're ready for everything, you're prepared," Slack told WVLT.