Broward County's extensive coastline, inland waterways, canals and hundreds of thousands of acres of Everglades present unique challenges for law enforcement and emergency rescue operations. The responsibility to meet these challenges falls to BSO's Marine Unit, consisting of the Marine Patrol and the Dive Rescue Team.

The Marine Patrol enforces marine laws and ordinances and provides high-visibility patrol in county waterways, investigates boating accidents and related crime scenes, and promotes boating education and safety to the approximately 46,000 registered pleasure craft operators in the area.

In the county's western areas, patrol covers hundreds of thousands of acres of Florida's Everglades via airboat, protecting one of the world's most unique conservation areas.

BSO's Dive Rescue Team is called upon in emergency situations when life or property is threatened in any body of water In addition, they provide underwater recovery efforts for fatalities, vehicles, evidence, and are responsible for investigating underwater crime scenes. The 40 members of the Dive Rescue Team are from the Marine Patrol Unit, the Bomb Unit, Specialized Units, and from various Patrol Districts throughout the Agency.