A photo depicting an underwater dive stop posted on the Orange County Sheriff's Department Facebook page prompted dozens of comments, and several online shares today, but it turns out the photo was actually of a training session.
The photo, taken about 30 feet deep into the water off Ladder Rock south of Newport Harbor, shows an OCSD dive team member pointing what appears to be a gun at two other divers who have their hands up. The photo was posted Monday morning but actually dates back to six years ago, according to Lt. Jeff Hallock, sheriff's department spokesman.
"What you see in the photo was actually a training done by the dive team. Potentially this could happen, but I don’t think the dive team would be pointing guns underwater at anyone," Hallock said. "Typically what the dive team does is recover evidence and weapons that are thrown underwater."
On the Facebook page the OCSD said the photo was of a felony dive stop, but Hallock said there is no such thing as an official dive stop.
"We posted this as more of a public relations photo," Hallock said. "The whole underwater dive stop with the gun is a little far-fetched, it was more for fun during the dive team training."
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