SCUBA Diving for Lost Watch in Fort Erie Marina
It’s not every day you get a chance to reunite someone with a prized possession lost to the depths — especially in the murky waters of a marina. But that’s exactly what happened at Point Abino, on the northern shore of Lake Erie.Last week, an Apple Watch slipped off its owner’s wrist while they were docked at the Point Abino Marina. Like many marinas on Lake Erie, the water there isn’t exactly crystal clear — years of boat traffic and natural sediment have left a thick layer of silt that clouds visibility even a few feet below the surface.The owner jumped in to find the watch but came up empty-handed. Not wanting to give up, they brought in a local diver who gave it a go under the same poor conditions. Unfortunately, the silt made visibility nearly impossible, and after several attempts, the watch seemed gone for good.
That’s when we got the call !
With my Garrett Vortex metal detector , I decided to give it a shot. I’ve only used the new Vortex a couple times but I trusted its precision — even in silty environments.
After scanning the area around the dock where the watch was last seen, and carefully combing the bottom to
avoid stirring up more sediment, I finally got a strong signal. I gently sifted through the muck with my hand and there it was — the unmistakable curve of an Apple Watch band, caked in silt but intact.
It was a rewarding moment. The look on the owner’s face when I handed it back made all the effort worth it. This recovery was a perfect example of how the right tools, patience, and a bit of experience can make the difference between a lost cause and a success story. The Garrett Vortex performed flawlessly, and despite the poor visibility, the Apple Watch made it back to its owner — still functional after its unexpected dive into Lake Erie.
If you’re ever dealing with a recovery in tough underwater conditions, don’t give up too soon. Sometimes, all it takes is the right gear and a little persistence.
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odds I finally got a signal that I was sure sounded good. The bottom was solid stones and gravel so I had to reach down a few times and pick up handfuls of the sharp stones until I finally got the target in my hand. When I came up from the water I saw the edge of a beautiful platinum ring amongst all the gravel in my hand. I held it up high and as the couple watched in disbelief I pulled out his lost wedding ring from the cup of my hand. They were amazed & ecstatic😀
Had a great Toronto Ring Finders call last night from a husband explaining that his wife could not stop crying about her Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring she had just lost. Kim had been out walking the dog along a local path that night and when she got home noticed her beautiful ring was missing off her her hand. She looked throughout the house and finally realized she must have lost it outside along the 1/2 mile walk she was on. The weather in Toronto has been quite cold for April and the cold temperature must have made her hands shrink. With flashlight in hand Kim headed out in the pitch dark and went up and down the snow covered path with no luck. I can’t imagine how devastating this must have felt, the ring was an absolutely beautiful Platinum band with an exquisite Princess cut Diamond. Not to mention the sentimental value of loosing an engagement ring would be the worst feeling……. but they found me on the Ring Finders Toronto page and there was a glimmer of hope. I had told them that last year I returned over 50 rings to people in the same shoes, not to worry and I would be over first thing. I told my wife and 2 adult daughters the story and they were all pretty adamant that I get there first thing before a passer by finds it before me.
unsuccessfully. 4 years later Gary asked me to give it a shot and sure enough after about 2 minutes I got a beautiful silver signal. The picture tells the rest of the story. Congrats Gary