Recon Dive Recovery

06/28/2026

Sea Turtle observation every morning during nesting season at Recon Dive Recovery's Retreat in Melbourne Beach, Florida.

06/28/2026

Fellow Diver Terry the Turtle laying her Loggerhead Eggs on Melbourne Beach, Florida.

06/25/2026

Flagler County Sheriff's Office has completed their investigation of Human Remains we located & confirmed the identity of Mary Lou Combs through DNA analysis.

It was Our Honor to bring Mary Lou Combs....

HOME.

Recon Diver
Recon Dive Recovery
Helo & Sub
Vernon Shurtz

Cold case closed.

The human remains found by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and others in February have been positively identified as Mary Lou Combs, a Palm Coast woman who went missing in 2003. Combs’ identity was determined following DNA testing.

During lab testing by the FDLE and the UNT Health Center for Human Identification, the DNA profile from the remains — located underwater in the Intracoastal Waterway alongside a vehicle and other items belonging to Combs — was compared to previously submitted samples in the Combined DNA Index System database from Combs’ son and two of her siblings.

DNA testing determined the DNA profile from the remains is consistent with a parent‑child relationship when compared to DNA from Combs’ son. Testing also showed results consistent with a full biological sibling relationship when compared to DNA from Combs’ siblings. Based on the findings, FCSO detectives confirmed the remains are those of Mary Lou Combs, who had been missing for 23 years.

“These findings confirmed what we suspected in February, which is that we had finally found Mary Lou Combs after all these years,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I want to thank everyone again for their efforts on this case to finally bring Mary Lou’s family some answers after over two decades of uncertainty.”

For information on remaining unsolved FCSO cold cases, visit flaglersheriff.com/cold-case.

04/29/2026

Thank You American Police Hall of Fame Museum for holding this Titanium Stokes Basket / Helicopter Rescue Litter for us while we were in Pennsylvania on a Case. It has found its Forever Home in our Dive Trailer for Cold Case Recovery work, & fits on the roof rack for quick transport. This essential piece of gear is specially employed using the UCI Lift Methods developed by Mike Berry at Underwater Criminal Investigators to recover Victims that may be weighted, severely decomposed, wrapped in carpets or tarps, or hidden in barrels. (If you want to learn how; quit dinkin, & take his courses.)

We could not have afforded this $2789 item through retail means, & acquired this tool for a $100 donation.

Although the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum is now permanently closed since opening in 1960 & moving 3 times; finally settling next to the Kennedy Space Center, it's Legend of Service lives on with Recon Dive Recovery's ongoing Mission: To Bring Them Home.

Truly a Blessing. -Recon Diver 🙏

03/16/2026

If you're SERIOUS about Recovery Diving, get in on this course by Underwater Forensics & Educational Foundation. I've taken an Underwater CSI course by Tim Andro in the online format and it was absolutely worth the cost & effort. Tim brings a wealth of knowledge to the science & craft of Underwater Forensic Investigation. Process your underwater crime scenes correctly, document them properly, & have your testimony be considered as an Expert Witness in court.

03/13/2026

"Ladies & Gentlemen... These are YOUR VETERANS of the United States of America right here!"

I got a little choked up at that announcement as I watched with my fellow red lanyard "Dive Immersion" Veterans group as our first squad got to take to the tank.

Morning Divers from LifeWaters cruise across the underwater tunnel at Georgia Aquarium, with one disabled Veteran Rose in her HOT PINK Full Face Mask with 2 attendants assisting her with propulsion & her own swimming via arm movements & limited mobility leg movements.

Shout out to LifeWaters Scubility Safety Divers as they SWOOP IN IMMEDIATLY to assist another Veteran in standard Open Water Scuba gear to her to clear her mask & dive comfortably in 30ft with Whale Sharks, Giant Mantas, & Goliath Groupers watching closely.

Looking forward to achieving that Certification to assist as well.

03/13/2026

Amazing experience with our Disabled Veterans of LifeWaters while Diving with Gentle Giants at Georgia Aquarium!! Scuba diving with the Whale Shark & Giant Manta Ray with our fellow Veterans is once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If YOU are a Veteran or First Responder and want to enjoy this experience, they're going again in September.

No matter what your ability, there's a program for you. Snorkel Swim, Scuba Dive, Adaptive Scubility for Disabled Vets, Paraplegic, Quads, Amputee, PTS, ALL VETERANS can join this experience.

Disabled divers used Ocean Technology Systems Guardian Full Face Masks with attendant Safety Divers assisting with propulsion.

You can also train through LifeWaters to become a Scubility Safety/Rescue Diver to support Adaptive Scuba Divers. That Certification is on my Training List for 2026.

Tallulah the Giant Manta was my absolute favorite!

Thank you LifeWaters & Georgia Aquarium for this opportunity!!

LifeWaters is a 501c3 funded by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs programs & donations from people like you.

03/07/2026

Georgia Aquarium with LifeWaters for a Disabled Veterans & First Responder Dive with giant Manta Rays & Whale Sharks.

03/03/2026

Military.com profile on our work:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2026/02/27/veterans-help-solve-22-year-old-cold-case-florida.html

Law Enforcement Public Private Partnership:
Flagler County Sheriff's Office
FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation

Trusted Gear:
Garmin
Orcatorch
Scubapro
Garmin Marine
Newport Vessels
Pinnacle Aquatics
Ocean Technology Systems
Chasing Underwater Drones

Find Us:
www.ReconDiveRecovery.com
www.SonarAquaticRobotics.com
www.HeloAndSub.com

Support Us:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/lostinthedeep

03/03/2026

Military.com profile on our work:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2026/02/27/veterans-help-solve-22-year-old-cold-case-florida.html

Recon Dive Recovery, Helo & Sub, Recon Diver, Vernon Shurtz

Law Enforcement Public Private Partnership:
Flagler County Sheriff's Office
FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation

Trusted Gear:
Garmin
Dive Rite
Orcatorch
Scubapro
Garmin Marine
Newport Vessels
Pinnacle Aquatics
Ocean Technology Systems
Chasing Underwater Drones

Find Us:
www.ReconDiveRecovery.com
www.SonarAquaticRobotics.com
www.HeloAndSub.com

Support Us:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/lostinthedeep

Train with:
Dive911 in the South East
Northeast Public Safety Divers in the North East

Be SAFER with:
Divecodes

Learn & Support:
Underwater Forensics & Educational Foundation