It’s important to understand that the information collected during a rescue/recovery operation does not belong to the IUCRR. The IUCRR is always subordinate to the local law enforcement organization (LEO) that is in charge of the crime scene. (Yes, every recovery venue is considered a crime scene until the LEO deems otherwise.) Consequently, there may be many reasons why the IUCRR does not (and often cannot) post the information on its website. The most common reason it may not show up is simply that the information hasn’t been released by the LEO. Also, there may be legal issues associated with a recovery, and we may be restrained by those proceedings from posting the information. The bottom line is, if we can post the information, we will post it.

It is also pertinent to know that we do not hold any information back, with one exception noted below. Once the recovery divers have written their report, law-enforcement has released that information, and the regional coordinator has checked it for accuracy and approved it, the information is posted on this web site. No information is withheld, with the exception of the victim’s name (and, sometimes, the buddy(ies) name(s)). The purpose of posting is to provide information to cave divers and the general public on what is known about an incident, in the hopes that the information will provide educational or safety value. Since the victim(s) name(s) nor the buddy’s names are not relevant to the educational or safety value of the information, they are not published.