Background: I received my first TRF call on 15-Oct-26 from Linda that her husband David had just dropped his gold wedding band at a dock on the Stono River at Fort Pemberton Park in Charleston SC. They were visiting from Indiana and were returning home within a few days. He was fishing at the dock, which had just opened in September and his ring slipped off and fell in the water right near a piling. I got as many details as I could and set a plan to meet the next day well before low tide. Linda estimated the water depth at 4 feet deep during an outgoing tide. Low tide on Friday 16-Oct was to occur just before 7:00 pm. Sunset was at 6:46 pm.
On Site Conditions: No Swimming Signs! Possible bull shark habitat, some chance for alligator encounters (but not concerned about either after searching incident history). The water depth was about 8-9 feet deep two hours prior to low tide. The current and water depth made a normal jump in the water and sweeps with the detector virtually impossible. No access to the water level except for climbing down to the cross-bracing right at the piling where the ring was dropped into the water. The cross-bracing being at the right spot was a game changer.
Gear: Minelab Manticore, titanium CKG scoop and carbon fiber shaft, ProFind 40 pinpointer, wetsuit, 16′ aluminum telescoping pole, duct tape.
Approach: Since the water was too deep and the sun was going down as low tide neared, the only option I could attempt was to duct tape my detector to the 16′ telescoping pole, then climb down the dock structure to sweep with the headphone coil stretched out – effectively creating a 14′ long detector! After sweeping the probable area, I hit on some good target IDs (and had to raise it up above the water quickly) to see the screen each time. Once I had some good hits, I had to climb back up, remove the pole from the detector and tape the scoop to it. After several scoops of clay-like mud and oyster shells, I pulled up a tear drop sinker, hook and leader – classic fake out target ID for gold. After another climb up to the dock, I swapped the scoop out for the detector and duct taped it up again. After finding more good target IDs around the spot at the piling, I switched back to taping the scoop to the pole again. I found another fake out item – a small, open pocket knife. As the sun was going down and the fatigue of scooping mud and oysters, shaking and sifting for what was now the 20-30th time, I began thinking I’d have to return in the morning. In the back of my mind, each time I washed the clay off my hand I was expecting a friendly nibble from a juvenile bull shark – or worse. It was near dark, mosquitoes swarming and balancing on the cross-brace while wresting the leverage of scooping and sifting each time were taking their toll. Linda was telling me to let her know when I was going to take my last scoop to take pics, etc. I had taken the last several scoops near the piling, but a little downstream to factor in the drift from the tide. I figured I would check the scoop I had and then do one more before climbing back up.
Closure: After two hours, I sifted the scoop that I knew would almost be the last – only one more would be all I could handle by then. After a little sifting and using my hand to feel the clay, in near darkness, I barely saw the unmistakeable shape and shimmer of a gold wedding band! I kept quiet and carefully put the ring on my finger, clenched my fist and yelled “I think I’m gonna come up”. Linda said “You should”…. I responded “I’m coming up because I found the ring!!”. Screams erupted everywhere. What a great moment and I was so glad to recover this ring for Linda and David! A little luck, a nod from God, and some ingenuity to use the detector and scoop in 8-10′ of water all paid off! This could not have been a better ending as they reach their 30th anniversary soon!
Jeff, we can’t thank you enough for your skill, hard work and perseverance. When David’s ring sunk to the murky depths of the Stono we weren’t sure we’d ever see it again. But you found it! You have tremendous skill and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Best money we ever spent
Thank you again for finding me on The Ring Finders and the very kind words Linda. You are very welcome and I’m happy that this was my first recovery here. I wish you both many happy years together!