Diamond Engagement/Wedding Ring lost in lake…Recovered in Foster City, CA!!!
Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP 925-580-2590
Saedah was in an obvious panic when she lost her diamond engagement/wedding ring off the deck and into the lake at a Bay Area restaurant! She admitted to locating THERINGFINDERS.COM website and proceeding to contact just about every member in the Bay Area for help. Once word got to me, the idea of performing only my 2nd request for a water recovery this year was appealing. It was late in the evening and I wouldn’t be available until mid-day the following afternoon, but I agreed to sign on to the task.
The details as to where the ring fell into the lake were really good, however the depth was left a bit ambiguous. Not knowing this piece of the puzzle, I packed an enormous amount of equipment for the recovery. When I showed up to the location I used a tape measure to check the depth of the water near the site Saedah noted the ring was lost. It was just under 5 feet in depth but dropped off steep. I decided to make an attempt without a ton of gear and took just a scoop and the Equinox 800. I located a CLOSED for CONSTRUCTION boat dock to access the water from and slid into the water. Making it half the distance to the location of the missing diamond ring, I turned back to grab a mask and snorkel.
Once in the location underneath where Saedah and friends were sitting prior to the loss of the ring, it took only seconds to recover it. We had MADE THE RECOVERY!!!
As I emerged from the lake with my gear and the missing ring, patrons of the restaurant clapped and congratulated me. The manager stated that a lot of phones, rings, eating utensils and other things often end up in the lake along the deck, but this was the first time he had heard of anything being recovered. I sent Saedah a picture of the ring and then called… she was overjoyed that the ring was found and safe and set out to meet me at the location. This was an excellent way to start the weekend!
I wanted to thank Saedah for trusting me with the recovery of her meaningful and precious ring. And also to all of the other Ring Finders who helped point her in my direction! I consider this a win for all of us, Thank you!
The boat dock from which I entered the water and the deck the missing ring was lost off of.
Freshly recovered from the lake!
The recovered ring!
The Diamond Engagement/Wedding ring!
Saedah with her ring back where it belonged.
Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP 925-580-2590
Dave, my Son-In-Law got a call Tuesday morning from Gina asking could he please help her find her Father’s ring in the Gulf of Mexico. David had to work that day so he asked me to help Gina. Her Father had since passed away and she was overwrought emotionally and ardently sentimental about the loss of his heirloom. To Gina the ring is a significant and permanent connection spirituality with her Father that was on her finger everyday and just had to be reclaimed. The ring was lost in about waist deep water at low tide but the horizontal plain was quiet large, perhaps 300 to 400 feet. Another factor revolved around the weather forecast. A tropical system was forecast to arrive that evening with large surf and gale force winds. If the ring wasn’t recovered before the weather arrived the probability of recovery would be significantly diminished. The beach she visited is part of the Gulf Islands Seashore and Park Management does not allow metal detection in the Park without a Special Permit. I have performed several recoveries of property for Gulf Islands Guests in the pass and contacted Park Staff for a permit only to learn that everyone was gone this day. The Park had an All-Hands-On-Deck wildfire in progress and I couldn’t get in touch with anyone. After several hours I did get in touch with a staff member who said to send an email requesting a permit and (in not so many words) that should cover my back. Because lots of time had passed in travel and permit issue and with weather issues on the horizon and most importantly, because Gina put her trust in me and I couldn’t fathom disappointing her, I arrived on the beach in early afternoon and Gina was their waiting on me. The search took about 4 hours before I heard the unmistakable vivacious, exuberant, resonance of gold. I immediately broke into a wide grin that got Gina’s attention. I exited the water and returned her ring to her hand and she put it back on the finger where it belongs. Both David and I are more that happy that we were able to made things right for Gina that day! 
I got called Saturday morning from John asking if I could help in finding his wedding band. He thought it was lost in a rather small area on the sandy beach, which he was standing guard over so no one would disturb the sand causing it go deeper. Both he and his wife were most concerned something would happen and his ring would be lost forever and could I come right away. I arrived about 45 minutes later and got to know John as we searched the area he thought contained his ring. John is from Mississippi and loves the outdoors and hadn’t been married that long. But this day he wasn’t happy, having lost his ring. He claimed I needed to find the ring to save his marriage, I’m sure just hyperbole. He had consulted with his friends back home about how to proceed, thought about buying a metal detector but someone had hear of us and recommended Pensacola Ring Finders as a more economical route. We couldn’t find it in the logical area so after brainstorming his activity determined when he moved a cooler the ring may have been sent sailing in a south easterly direction. So I searched that area and kept expanding and indeed found this ring in the steep slope leading to the water. It was found probably 40 feet from were he moved the cooler. Needless to say he was happy and impressed that I could find such a small item in such a large area. He said he was going to get a detector when he got home to do some detecting in Mississippi around where he lives. I said if he needed partners to hunt with we would be happy to assist! 
I met Jeff and Mandi at Orange Beach Alabama where they were enjoying a week of rest and relaxation at the beach when Jeff lost his wedding ring. This ring held unfathomable sentimental significance that culmination in a romance that spanned more that 30 years. The story began when Jeff and Mandi met at the University of Southern Alabama. They became very close while in College and frequented the area attractions including the beaches. Their favorite spot was Fairhope and more specifically the Fairhope Pier that over looked Mobile Bay. Some time near graduation they were visiting the Pier and Jeff proposed presenting an engagement ring, Mandi accepted! But it was not to be, much later Mandi returned the engagement ring and they went in different directions. But they stayed friends and because of the family connections stayed in touch. Twenty five years later, the romance rekindled. They were living in different states and developed a long distance relationship. After several years, they were vacationing near the beaches and Fairhope, which Mandi says is her “Happy Place”, and they decide to visit the pier. Once again Jeff proposed and gave her the same engagement ring from 30 years before! This time she accepted forever! Unbeknownst, their families got wind of the proposal and brought the party with them, to the pier! They were finally married after about 30 years, which brings us to the present when I recovered Jeff’s wedding band. In the picture above you can see the engraving inside the band. The entire engraving reads. At Last Love Mandi. Mandi showed me the ring that was given to her thirty years earlier and again four years ago. The day I recovered Jeff’s ring the surf was quite rough several waves broke over my head, but Jeff’s ring was found in about 3 minutes. I went right to it. I can’t help but think that I was meant to find it and return it to this super couple as testament to their faith, perseverance and love!