Quoted from Valerie’s acceptance speech when inducted in the Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2006: 

 “None of the projects I have been involved with have been done in a vacuum. Throughout my years of involvement diving on, documenting and producing programs about shipwrecks, I have had the immense pleasure to work with a variety of talented individuals, many who have remained life-long friends.  I can pursue my passion because so many others are following theirs. When we collaborate wonderful things occur.  Without my connection to these people, the past 20 years would not have been as productive and certainly not as much fun.” 

Goshawk Team Members:  Clockwise, Valerie Olson van Heest, Cris Kohl, Keith Pearson, Mike Hoffner, Ken Vrana, Bill Atkins.  Photo by Joe Oliver