Frequently Asked Questions

What services do you provide?

Our primary focus is recovering drowning victims. Sometimes we also recover submerged vehicles or other objects, but we’re not a commercial diving company. When we’re not involved directly, we use our extensive experience to help families understand how the search and recovery process will unfold, and act as a liaison with other agencies to provide clarification, assistance and support.

How much do you charge?

We don’t charge anything. California Recovery Divers is a philanthropic entity (501c3) with a team of highly experienced unpaid volunteers. We exist solely to provide recovery services, family and community aid. Every dollar given by donors is used only for this mission and is accounted for in our financial statements.

Do you earn revenue or benefit in another way from social media?

No. We do not use social media to gain a following, build a community and raise funds. Nor will we ever use social media as a means to exploit a family’s tragedy for organizational or personal gain. Our work is highly personal and we believe it should not be sensationalized or broadcast under the guise of helping others or raising awareness. We help families quietly in the time of distress. We have collectively recovered over 40 drowning victims and we’ve learned how important it is to treat the victims and families with dignity at their time of tragedy. There are times that we may post some insight, re-post news article or outcome on our website or on a social media platform but we strive to do it in an informative, professional and sensitive way.

Do you have a YouTube channel or post videos of your recoveries?

No. We’re aware of some groups that do dive operations and post videos for entertainment, engagement and fund raising purposes. A few have posted videos of actual victim recovery operations which can be highly distasteful and distressing to families. Our focus is solely on assisting families in times of great need and doing this with respect for their privacy. We have collectively recovered over 40 drowning victims and we’ve learned how important it is to treat the victims and families with dignity at their time of tragedy. Exploiting a family’s tragedy through social media or video is unethical and against our Code of Honor.

Where do you provide services?

Mostly Northern and Central California. We’re happy to consider more distant projects, but our volunteers are based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

What makes you different from police and firefighter teams?

Usually law enforcement and firefighters are called as first responders. The scope of their mission is dictated by the many other activities they’re also responsible for. Our team is a supplemental resource that can take a highly detailed, analytical and focused approach to recoveries. To be clear, we also work very closely with first responders, and some of us also do volunteer work on law enforcement teams, both directly and as instructors and mentors. Optimally, we’re the team that can take a “handoff” from first responders when they need to direct their resources elsewhere or have exhausted their capabilities.

How do you get involved with operations?

Typically, we’re contacted by phone or via this web site by families or friends of drowning victims. There are times that we become aware of a need through the news or our law enforcement contacts, and coordinate with first responders and family members to make sure we have accurate information about how the recovery process unfolds, and to ensure we’re not interfering with first responders. We never chase cold cases or push ourselves on a family or law enforcement. We are acutely aware of the need for coordination with active law enforcement and respect the proper steps and protocol to recovery a drowning victim. There are often circumstances that are not known to the public that must be accounted for in a recovery effort. We nor anyone should assume that nothing is happening or that law enforcement has given up.

Do you have branded merchandise?

Sorry, no. We’re in the service of helping people, not selling stuff.