Emergency: Call 911.
CRRA cannot currently respond to an emergency.
The River Never Sleeps
Chowan River Rescue Alliance
Help us build a local underwater search team. Be part of CRRA.
Our Story
The Chowan River Rescue Alliance (CRRA) was founded in 2025 by local volunteers who care about the Chowan River and its blackwater tributaries in northeastern North Carolina. We are an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit startup, still months away from being functional. Today we have only 2 divers, no boat, and no state certification. We are not a dispatch resource, and we cannot currently respond to an emergency. What we are doing is building, from the ground up, a no-cost local underwater search, rescue, and recovery capability. Our aim is that no life, no evidence, and no loved one is ever left behind beneath the dark waters of northeastern North Carolina. We are the Chowan River Rescue Alliance, where “The River Never Sleeps”.
What we are working towards
We are not operational yet.
Emergency
A team 911 and local agencies can request for underwater search on the Chowan and its tributaries.
Rescue & Recovery
Live rescue when it is possible, and dignified recovery when it is not.
Training
A team trained to recognized public-safety standards.
Volunteers Building This From The Ground Up
We are neighbors and volunteers building this from the ground up.
Volunteer-Driven
We are 100% volunteer-operated. No paid positions, ever.
Local Focus
We live and work on the Chowan River and its blackwater tributaries.
Self-Funded
We are self-funded through grants and donations, with zero financial burden on local departments.
If someone is missing in the water
1. Call 911 FIRST
Note last seen location, time, and what they were wearing
Do not search on your own in the dangerous blackwaters of NC
Volunteer
The Chowan River runs about 50 miles, plus its blackwater tributaries, with no dedicated underwater search team. Too often, someone loses their life in these waters. Make a difference. Join CRRA.
You do not have to be a diver. We’ll train you. We need divers, people who want to be divers, boat operators, shore support, and trainers.
Call (252) 296-1833 or use the form.
Donate
We run on grants and donations, with no paid staff. To give, use the form with subject Donate.
CRRA is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Please consider donating your old dive gear. CRRA will use it as training aids for our team. To arrange a gear donation, use the contact form on this page or call us at (252) 296-1833.
Contact Us!
Email: info@crra-divers.org
Phone: (252) 296-1833
Water emergency? Call 911. CRRA cannot currently respond to an emergency. Call (252) 296-1833 for volunteer, gear donations, and questions. Office: 9 AM–5 PM
This form is not for emergencies. Call 911. CRRA cannot currently respond to an emergency. Use the form for volunteer, donation, or questions.