KARNAK - Whether it's a lost wedding ring, sunken boat or evidence in a criminal investigation, Dean Hamilton's crew will brave icy and deep waters to recover it.

Three years ago, the soon-to-be-61-year-old Karnak resident started Underwater Criminal Investigation and Recovery Services. It was a way to combine his experience in law enforcement and interest in diving, said Hamilton, an officer with the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force.

"It's an adventure," Hamilton said. "It can be dangerous, but it's always an adventure."

His business model is basic. If you need to retrieve something from underwater, Hamilton will recover it for a fee. While he has searched the waters for woman's lost wedding ring, Hamilton said his main customers are insurance companies and law enforcement agencies.

Hamilton and his six divers have searched the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, as well as the area's myriad lakes and ponds. It can be a dangerous job with strong currents and even colder water, especially during the winter months, he said.

"It's not a job anyone can do," Hamilton said, explaining that he and his divers have completed extensive training.

Pulaski County Sheriff Randy Kern said he has used Hamilton's service and was pleased with the recovery. It's not often the service is needed, but Kern said it is nice to know it's there if he ever does need it. And diving into cold, murky water isn't exactly on his to-do list, Kern added.

To help the divers recover items, Hamilton said the group uses a variety of high-tech equipment. They can take video and photos under water and even use a torch to cut items. He recently added marina repair to his list of services.

The prices vary depending on the situation, he said. It may cost $85 an hour per diver to search for items such as a lost wedding ring, but Hamilton said it all depends on how deep the water is, the weather and several other variables.

Besides the "wicked" currents, Hamilton said nothing has surprised him yet. Occasionally, divers will find other things on a search, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

"You think you know what you are going to find, but sometimes you will find other things you didn't expect," he said. "You might go down looking for a gun and end up with a videotape that is useful for the police investigation."

With plans to retire next year, Hamilton said he's looking to putting more time into the business, which he said has been increasing since its 2004 inception. Even though he'll still be working, Hamilton said going on his "adventures" will be a nice way to retire.

bethany.krajelis@thesouthern.com

351-5816

Diving for a dime

For more information on Underwater Criminal Investigation and Recovery Services, contact Dean Hamilton at 634-2434, 521-5214 or www.underwaterrecovery.org