The Augusta County Underwater Recovery Team was formed in July 1998 with combined members of the Augusta County Sheriff's Department, Fire and EMS personnel and civilians. This team filled a need for an organization responsible for the recovery of stolen property, Underwater Investigation, the recovery of drown victims, cold water near-drowning situations and for emergency search and rescue. The team is a Public Service dive team, not limited to just August County, but available to dive where needed, or requested by other agencies, within the state of Virginia. This is a non-profit organization.
All members use their own diving gear and donate their own time for dive missions and dive training.
The team has performed several dive missions. Items recovered have been stolen money, missing firearms, and hidden drugs. No visibility, just feeling your way around. This requires some special training to the normal diver who is used to having 10 - 15 feet visibility and who is used to diving in warmer, clearer tropical waters. The Dive Team after their first successful dive mission for stolen money in Middle River.