This waterfront city now has its first-ever scuba dive team comprising 11 firefighters and five police officers.
Fire Chief Edward Mullen says the Perth Amboy Dive Team will fill a need by responding to a water rescue or recovery quickly.
"Lives will be saved and lives can be saved because we are able to immediately act now," he said. The city is surrounded by the Raritan Bay, Raritan River and the Arthur Kill.
"We are known as The City by the Bay, so a few years ago we would have different incidents in our waterways where we would need divers," Mullen said.