Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team

06/12/2026

Since our founding in October 2016, donations like yours have allowed us to respond to 113 mission and bring 101 people back to their families, friends and communities around Alaska.

(Information as of June 10st 2026, information does not include evidence or other dive missions, not tied to human remains search and recovery missions)

Mission Statement:
We are a donation funded, all-volunteer, unpaid, 501(c)(3) Non-Profit, water rescue/dive search and recovery, team that exists to provide the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) with a statewide capability for search, rescue, and when necessary, recover human remains or evidence from underneath the water’s surface.

The Team now coverers the Municipality of Anchorage for all subsurface missions and Inlet Rescue Missions, since the Anchorage Fire Department disbanded their Dive and Inlet Rescue Team.

We are activated through the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator and can be ready to deploy for recovery missions anywhere in Alaska within one hour of notification.

The sooner you request us by name, through the Alaska DPS SAR Coordinator, the faster we can respond and the likely hood of the subject or evidence can be located.
Please do not wait!

06/10/2026

We are always there for you, please be there for us.

We are still a long way from having the $200k we need to replace our Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) . It is a critical piece of equipment why? Because we use it to assess conditions, hazards, confirm a target, document the site, monitor divers on very deep missions, etc. before ever committing a diver to do a mission. We also use them to do a recovery if the conditions are to hazards for the diver.

Our team is built around the divers safety, we would rather loose a piece of equipment that loose a life.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-help-replace-mission-critical-remotely-operated-vehicle-rov

06/09/2026

We absolutely hate asking for your hard earned money to be donated, but as a donation funded team this is the only way for us to replace, repair and maintain equipment vital to our mission and safety. It is also the only way for us to keep operating, even tho we are a 100% unpaid, volunteer team with no facility.

Each member pays for their own required training, supplies some of their own mandatory equipment and leaves their paid job and family to help others.

We hate having to post on social media, none of us like the attention. In fact, if we could find grants to keep us operating and people know they could request us in their time of need or to help educate others to prevent tragedies. We would be very happy to operate without saying we are doing this or we need money. Two things we hate doing.

But unfortunately we have to have a presents on social media to not only pay the bills to keep responding throughout the state to bring closure to families, friends and communities when someone goes missing.

We Need Your Help! To replace our non operational Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV),. As a donation funded team we can only accomplish this with your help. We use the ROV on every mission for diver safety, mission planing, hazard identification, search, documenting the site and when necessary due to h...

06/09/2026

https://www.youralaskalink.com/news/local/alaska-dive-search-and-recovery-launches-statewide-fundraising-raffle/article_5aaa2599-6ab8-4498-acde-143f6230bc0e.html

Alaska Dive Search and Recovery is launching a raffle and fundraising campaign to replace underwater search equipment, aiming for a $200,000 goal supported by community donations.

06/08/2026

Only 11 days left before the Raffle!

Call or texting Sarah at (907) 299-7022 to get tickets
You do not need to be present to win!
Every drawing gets a prize until they are gone!

All funds raised go to replacing our broken ROV which is a critical piece of equipment used on every mission. The unit cost $200k to replace so every donation and ticket matters.

Tax Free Donations can be made at:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-help-replace-mission-critical-remotely-operated-vehicle-rov

06/08/2026

Today, on our second day of assisting in the search for Frank Villalovos of Palmer, that went missing on Little Willow Creek early Saturday morning. We were able to locate him with the help of our joint team members from Solstice Search Dogs.

In addition to locating Mr. Villalovos, to bring closure to his family, friends and community. We also assisted another boater that swamped his boat. We assisted him in recovering it, draining the water from the boat and making sure the motor still worked, so he could return the landing.

We are a donation funded, unpaid, all volunteer 501(c)(3) Non Profit water response team that responds throughout Alaska to bring closure to the loved ones of the missing. We are currently trying to replace a critical piece of equipment that cost $200k we have raffles happening, and asking for your assistance through a tax deductible donation.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-help-replace-mission-critical-remotely-operated-vehicle-rov

himhttps://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/06/07/palmer-man-missing-after-boat-capsizes-little-willow-river/

A 21-year-old Palmer man is missing after a boat capsized on the Little Willow River early Saturday morning, according to Alaska State Troopers.

06/06/2026

Wednesday June 3d , we did a presentation for the kids attending the Pacific Northern Academy Summer Camp. We covered proper fitting of life jackets and the importance of wearing them around the water.

We also went over safe ways to assist someone in the water (talk them through what to do, reach out with items to them to get ahold of, throw things that float, ropes or anything else you may have, to pull them in with (Don't attach anything to yourself) and lastly DO NOT GO INTO THE WATER TO HELP!

The kids had a chance to learn about Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and watch one be operated (a team members recreational unit, since we still need funds to replace ours).

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-help-replace-mission-critical-remotely-operated-vehicle-rov

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1RptoBZ6fP/

On June 6, 1944, under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in history.

By dawn, thousands of paratroopers had already landed behind enemy lines, followed by waves of troops storming the beaches of Normandy under heavy German fire.

Despite fierce resistance, especially at Omaha Beach, the Allies secured a foothold in France, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe during World War II.