You know, our search and recovery team is a non-profit 501(c)(3). We get by on small donations from local businesses and individuals, membership dues, and support from a very few dive shops.

Our town has nearly ten dive shops, but only one of them is generous in supporting our team, and most give us no support at all. In particular, the most financially successful dive shop in town won't give us a penny.

We get no funding from government. There is probably some grant money out there, but no one has had time to write a grant proposal.

But I think the feds are indifferent to local efforts like ours. We don't spend our time looking for underwater terrorists.

In fact, while some local law enforcement are very grateful that we are there to help them out, other local law enforcement seem to despise us, as if we are steping on the turf of their own dive teams, who get a lot of funding but who cannot field the same kind of search operations we are capable of.

Just one AGA mask (full face mask with communications) costs over a thousand dollars. We don't have enough for every member, and some members have purchased AGA masks out of their own pockets. Divers have to supply all of their own equipment, other than the rescue equipment.

We keep searching after the government funded law enforcement search teams have given up. All on volunteer time, money and donations.

I don't know how much of Homeland Security's budget has gone into public safety diving, but I can assure you it is not the volunteer teams who have bought all the dry suits that created the back log of which you speak.

Again, no disrespect meant! in terms of the backlog and all that, I believe if the police and firefighters are going to be in the water they should have the best equipment available! I was more stating everything from a "i fucking hate bush and his patriot act/homeland security" standpoint. And i was only stating what I had heard from two dive shops as to why there is such a long waiting period.

And Amanda..no shit! The dui i was looking into being made would be $1800 with my instructor's rate which is 1/2 price! and with a dry suit i am going to need a new BC, ($400-$600) and possibly new fins, ($150)...oy vey!!! I am not sure yet where this money is coming from but really, who needs food when there's diving to be done?