Why do you do this?
It’s a question we get asked a lot. So I asked some of our volunteers.
Scott Harrison answered in his usual succinct and on-point fashion: It gives me a chance to do something good; for someone I don't know; who is in pain I can't imagine.
I think that sums it up pretty well.
For Dave McMurdie, it’s a feeling of responsibility. I’ve spent a lot of years developing and refining a set of skills related to locating and recovering drowning victims. When I learn about a situation where I can help, I can’t just turn away. And now that my own kids are grown and I have more time and resources, it just feels like the right thing to do.
Megan Crabtree is a deeply skilled part of the rising generation of volunteers: Volunteering with CRD gives me the chance to use my passion for technology and diving to bring closure to families, and learn from friends I really respect. CRD members have acquired so much knowledge in a field few dare to enter. I see it as my responsibility to ensure these skills don't get lost in the next generation so we're able to continuously help families in their darkest of days.
Scott Olvera serves his country as an active duty member of the U.S. military but also feels an ongoing responsibility to his immediate community: I am a firm believer that if you have the ability to help someone, do so. CRD enables us as members to do just that. Combining our years of diving experience to assist the community has been a very rewarding career that we intend on pursuing with our best efforts in the many years to come. Scott uses personal time when he’s not deployed to assist us
And from Kevin Haugh’s perspective: “Bringing peace and closure to impacted families is my main reason for volunteering. There is also a sense of obligation to support my teammates. I know this team will not hesitate to accept difficult, dangerous, exhausting missions and I feel an obligation to pitch in to support, protect, and assist California Recovery Divers. As I approach retirement, I look forward to leveraging new technology in our searches and dedicating more of my personal time to this meaningful pursuit.”
