Idaho's Toughest Jobs: Search and Rescue Diver

It's a job that is often done in freezing temperatures, in zero visibility, and in treacherous conditions. The hours are long and inconsistent and the pay is terrible. We continue our series "Idaho's Toughest Jobs" as Brenda Baumgartner goes to work with Bingham County's Search and Rescue Divers.

Search and Rescue is a job that is not only tough but down right dangerous.

Bill Brown/Bingham County Search and Rescue: "On average 9 Search and Rescue divers die annually."

And what makes being a Search and Rescue diver even more challenging is these dedicated men and women do it for free.

Bill Brown/Bingham County Search and Rescue: "It's all volunteer. Our time, our gas, the gear is all our own."

As we head out to Ririe Reservoir on a cold autumn morning the question that keeps running through my head is why? Not only why do they do it, but why did I agree to try it out for myself.

Even with wetsuits, I've never felt water this cold. And when we are 30 feet underwater I am amazed at what little visibility there is...[KPVI.com]