Not many Policemen get a welcoming wave and a smile from everyone they come across.

But for Marine Police constables Christopher Taggett and Ian McMillan, dealing with friendly members of the public is the norm rather than the exception.

Because the public know, when it comes to the crunch, and the others in the Police fleet will be out in treacherous seas trying to save lives.

"We are well respected," says P.c. Taggett. "People are always pleased to see us. In the water you help each other. You might save their life."

Having spent years in the US Navy aboard a destroyer in the Pacific, he knows it works both ways.

"There is nothing to say this boat won't break down or hit something."

P.c. Taggett has been in his fair share of scrapes during his nine years in the section.

And, as the leader of the dive team, he has had the grisly task of diving for corpses.

"We are at the mercy of the elements," he said. "In winter there can be five- to six-foot seas."

But whatever the weather, Marine Police will always attempt a rescue and P.c. Taggett is quick to acknowledge the team of reserves who answer the call when emergencies arise.

"We always respond. It's never been so bad that we have said 'You are on your own'."

Most bodies turn up, although the area off Watch Hill Park in Smith's has taken two lives without yielding the bodies.

P.c. Taggett, 43, also took part in the lengthy search for the four people washed to their deaths in Hurricane Fabian.

In addition to human tragedies, the seas are also becoming a grave yard for unwanted vehicles.

Thieves push in stolen bikes and people sometimes offload expensive cars in the water.

"The owners get in over their heads and can't keep up with the payments. It's the insurer's responsibility to get the cars but it becomes an environmental hazard.

"Some of the bays are becoming like a trash dump."

He also fears the fashion for living on boats results in raw sewage being dumped in the sea.

Investigating pollution is that much trickier in the water than on land as the tide moves the evidence away from the perpetrators, he says.

Boat theft, like car theft, isn't a big problem in Bermuda as the Island is so small that discovery of the vehicle is very likely.

Most thefts are of inflatable boats for people simply wanting to move about.

Transferring sick passengers from passing ships is another regular task of the Marine Police, often made more difficult by language barriers.

"They are usually Russian or something along those lines," says P.c. Taggett.

He has also led diving teams searching the hulls of boats for welded-on drug containers but has yet to find any.

When went out with the team last Friday there was precious little action despite the large number of boats out on the water.

Cheap imports mean the waterways and boatyards are choc-a-bloc and there are now 12,000 boats registered in Bermuda.

But common sense isn't as plentiful as the crafts.

In Mangrove Bay we came across a wooden fishing boat which had run aground the day before. Its owner is patiently waiting on deck for the tender to arrive.

A large part of the job involves checking boaters have the required safety gear.

"People need to learn the rules of the road," says P.c. Taggett.

We then came across three men fishing off Daniel's Head, but P.c. McMillan soon discovers the boat's registration is missing while the flares are past their use-by date.

The owner appears sheepish and promises to get it sorted. He faces a court date if it isn't.

"Flares are $50 a time. But without them everybody in the boat is in jeopardy and every who then looks for them is in jeopardy."

Small boats going beyond their limit and then getting in trouble is another cause of frustration while another pet peeve for P.c. Taggett are children riding on the bow of the boat ? clinging to the slippery metal rail with wet hands.

Unlike in Florida, it's not against the law but it is extremely dangerous and merits a severe warning as boaters are told that running over their own children could seriously spoil their day out.

With a 30-knot top speed, isn't the quickest boat out there but it's manoeuvrability is handy.

P.c. Taggett is also acutely aware of how vulnerable snorkelers are to speeding jetskiers. All it takes is one lapse of concentration for a fatality to occur.

As we make the rounds of popular spots, a call comes through about illegal campers on islands in Mangrove Bay. The owner wants them off as Cambridge Beaches are booked to have a function there.

We visit and find several youngsters with enough gear to last the long weekend. However, our party pooping visit cuts it short.

Being in the water also means dealing with nature.

"We have rescued a seal which had been attacked by a shark and was well out of its territory. "One guy helped a whale which was caught up in netting."