Locating and recovering a drowning victim involves a variety of tools and techniques. We have the expertise, experience and equipment.

  • At California Recovery Divers, we focus on locating and recovering a loved one who has drowned. The first step in the underwater recovery process is a careful site evaluation, so we can make recommendations about the proper tools to bring closure.

    Some sites are appropriate for a SCUBA search, while others (typically large areas) are best evaluated using technologies like side-scanning sonar from a boat. We have the knowledge, search techniques and tools needed to find and recover a drowning victim.

  • Some underwater recovery operations require the use of specialized tools. Our divers have hands-on experience and access to the tools needed for a recovery. We're experienced at working with outside resources, from law enforcement to salvage and tow operations to coroners to bring closure to any situation.

    Safety is a primary concern, so our divers use a 3-deep contingency system similar to that employed by firefighters and other public safety workers. All divers have extensive experience with blackwater operations and pass annual fitness tests. Confident, competent, safe operations are paramount.

  • Larger area searches require a different set of skills and resources, including boat operations, side-scanning sonar, or offshore grid creation and clearing. Our operators are adept at acquiring and analyzing sonar imagery, and we have the boats and the tools to find what you're looking for.

    Other searches may require the use of underwater remotely operated vehicles. Our personnel bring training and experience in some of the latest ROV technologies to help solve your recovery situation.

Group of five diverse people hugging in a church or religious setting.

We go beyond equipment and recovery diving techniques, we support families and guide them through the recovery process and bring closure with respect and privacy.

Please see our FAQ page for more information about our services and mission. Our Code Of Honor page speaks to our beliefs and philosophy about our approach.

A man on a boat wearing a red and navy jacket, black cap, and glasses, working on a laptop with cables connected, near a dock with trees and equipment visible in the background.
A bright yellow crescent shape dominates the image with a textured surface, appearing to be a large celestial body or the sun. There is a dark background, possibly space, with a small, detailed object or spacecraft near the edge of the yellow shape.
A diver in black gear with scuba breathing apparatus and helmet exiting a river near a police or rescue vehicle. Trees and cranes are visible in the background.
Two men working on a red inflatable boat with a Honda outboard motor, parked on a wet road under a bridge, with trees and overcast sky in the background.
Two firefighters in black uniforms walking through a grassy field near brush, with a blue pickup truck in the background.
A man wearing sunglasses, a black beanie, and a red jacket with rescue patches standing on a sandy surface near a boat, holding a blue item. The boat contains equipment including ropes, gloves, a crate with tools, a flotation device, and a large red
Two people working on equipment on a boat docked in a calm body of water, with a shoreline in the background.
Two people near a body of water, one children and one adult, wearing life jackets and dressed in outdoor clothing, on a sunny day in a natural setting.
Two men in black jackets on a red inflatable boat with a gray Honda outboard engine, docked near a pier and a large historic steamship in a marina.
Two people on a small boat on a calm body of water, with one standing and looking out, wearing an orange and blue jacket and a black beanie, and the other sitting with their back to the camera. The boat has a Garmin fish finder and a GPS device. The
Side view of a sonar image showing underwater terrain with a sunken tree or structure and some branches extending outward.
Rescue team using a crane to recover a white pickup truck that is submerged in a body of water near a shoreline, with several people and vehicles on land.
An adult in a yellow safety vest and a black hat is showing a small child in outdoor gear a device or paper at night. They are standing near a table with items on it, with parked cars and trees in the background.
Three people, including a man in scuba diving gear, standing near a body of water, engaged in conversation outdoors on a sunny day.
Three people in a warehouse observing a large machine or robotic device on a table. The woman with long curly hair appears to be explaining something to the two men.
Group of people hiking along a trail near a river, with green hills in the background.
A person preparing equipment on a red inflatable boat docked at a beach with calm water and a distant hilly landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
A small white Hydra-Sport boat on a trailer in a parking lot with red buoy floats attached to its side. The boat has a T-top canopy and an outboard motor at the stern. Several cars and some trees are visible in the background under a clear sky.

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