There's a great book written by the first diver to go down on the USS Arizona after the Dec. 7 attack and his description of the horrors he came across will give you chills. I think it's called "Descent Into Darkness."
All of these guys, both military and civilian, have balls of steel.
Later on they also used him from time to time to recover bodies. At the time (early 80s) cave diving was all the rage in northern FL.
People found out that there were networks of little underwater caves feeding the ponds they lost quite a few recreational divers farting around in the caves.
He said you just cruise along looking for a personal item lying on the floor of the cave then you look up. Thats where hell be floating, right up against the ceiling. He helped recover at least three or four people like that.
Hes also considered to be legally deaf due, according to him, from ear infections that resulted from diving in nasty water.
I can do without all that - that's all I know.
The Ohio dive team that they are profiling might be part of a broader water rescue organization, in which case "saving lives" would be the overall mission -- just not appropriate for the SCUBA division. We are much more likely to be working with police detectives & coroners than paramedics.
I hope I spelled your name correctly....I am the sister of David the 21 year old boy you found this day.....I juss want to thank you for finding my brother for us...I dont know if my family could have handled his death without being able to lay his body to rest....I can never thank you enough for the pieces of yourself that you sacrifice to bring peopke home to their love ones....and I truely believe there is a special place in heaven for angels like you