Deep Water Quests Aided by North American Experts
Deep Water Quests Society March training session with Gene and Sandy Ralston (photo contributed)
By Jo Boxwell
Deep Water Quests Society training on the lake in March (photo contributed)
A new society has emerged in the Shuswap, and while its name may sound adventurous, this organization’s purpose is both tragic and profound. Formed in 2025 and based in Sicamous, the Deep Water Quests Society (DWQ) aims to provide a service we all hope we will never need to think about – recovering deceased people from the lake.
When a person goes missing in the water, the RCMP and search and rescue organizations will conduct underwater searches, however, the province’s waterways are vast. Inevitably, with limited time and resources available, some searches will be called off before the missing individuals are located.
DWQ was founded with the goal of “finding and recovering drowned victims, easing distress for loved ones.” The society is comprised of volunteer “last responders” who are driven by a desire to help victims’ families. Using volunteer time and specialized technology, they aim to continue search efforts when other agencies step down, if requested by the family and with the approval of the relevant authorities.
Deep Water Quests Society training on the lake in March (photo contributed)
The new team is currently in the process of obtaining the equipment and training needed to become “mission ready.” From their boat, they will utilize technology such as side-scan sonar (which can create images of the lakebed using sound waves) and a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for underwater observation to conduct their “deep water quests.” These tools are particularly valuable for covering large areas and for examining locations where visibility is challenging for divers.
At the end of March, husband-and-wife team Gene and Sandy Ralston, two of North America’s leading experts in the recovery of drowned victims, came to the Shuswap to lead classroom and on-the-water training for DWQ. Gene and Sandy have successfully located 135 drowned victims in the US and Canada, and their work has brought them from their Idaho home to Shuswap and other BC lakes in the past.
DWQ volunteer Dot Kohler explained that the March training session with Gene and Sandy covered multiple aspects of the search and recovery process, including underwater search methodology, identification of submerged objects, interpreting data, using technology, water safety and communicating with agencies and families. She said, “you can learn, with such competent experts to guide you, how to identify bodies among many submerged objects on the screen. There is a science behind this kind of data interpretation and understanding of shadows and patterns.”
Deep Water Quests Society March classroom training session (photo contributed)
Even with the help of technology, underwater searches require a meticulous approach, and can be painstakingly slow, involving many long hours of work. DWQ volunteer Dennis Harris commented, “I was most impressed by the genuine humanity of the Ralstons. Their enduring compassion and generosity with their time and resources is truly amazing and highly commendable.”
Gene and Sandy donated their time for the Shuswap training session. DWQ has also been supported by CSRD grant-in-aid funds, BC Community Gaming Grants, the Shuswap Community Foundation and private donors. Sicamous Legion is assisting with funds for the inspection and calibration of the second-hand ROV that DWQ has acquired.
Dot explained that “Currently there is no other not-for-profit organization in all of BC that offers our services. Our focus for now is the Shuswap Lake system. It is our hope to one day respond when requested to any freshwater lake in B.C.” The next steps for the group include a follow-up training session to enhance volunteer skills on the lake using the ROV and side-scan sonar, and securing additional funds for other essential items and operational costs. “We have come such a long way, and hope to be mission-ready when the call comes in,” Dot said.
To find out more, visit: The Deep Water Quests Society on Facebook or email: deepwaterquestscommunications@gmail.com
