Lost-Lady’s Gold Heirloom Daimond Ring, Manteo, NC, OBX – FOUND!!
It seemed like a good idea…Tyler and Jesse – due to be married next June, were having an engagement photo shoot with their photographer Naomi. They were at the scenic and picturesque waterfront in Ft. Raleigh. What could go wrong? Then, they decided to go into the water to capture some beautiful images. When they got to shore, Tyler’s gold diamond ring was missing.
Later that night I got a call from Naomi. She told me about the photo shoot and the lost ring. She also informed me that the ring had been given to Tyler by her mom, who had passed away two years ago. I realized I had to do my best to recover this one. When she described where the ring was, I knew I had to get approval from the National Park Service (NPS) before searching.
The next day the couple met me at the site. They were sure it was lost in the water but not sure exactly where. They showed me an area in the water about 20 by 20 yards that the ring should be. I contacted the on-duty NPS Ranger, and he left a note on the desk of his boss.
Later that week I got the go ahead! The ring had been in the water for 7 days, so I headed out immediately. I contacted Naomi and Tyler (who had returned to Richmond) while I was on-route to the site. When I arrived, it was nearly 5:30 and I was greeted by unexpected wind and waves. I stopped and prayed on the beach.
I started the search just in the water parallel with the beach. I went out sweep by sweep about 4 ft at a time. The area was loaded metallic trash and iron targets. I continued going all the way out to the end of the wooden wave breaks. Nothing!
I was running out of time and daylight, so I called Tyler to ask about how far out by the wooden wave breaks they went. She told me they went about halfway out. I told her that I went completely to the end and that I had covered the entire area twice.
Deciding to call it a day and heading back in from the deep area, I went further west to an area I had not covered. I got hit. It was a 62, which is typical for a nickel. I changed the program and got a stronger sounding 62. I knew it could be the ring. When I brought up the scoop the diamonds and gold glistened mixed in with sand and rocks!
I sent a text to Tyler with the song “Miracles” by Colton Dixon and a picture of the ring.
Water image courtesy of Naomi Culley Photography
I got a call from Kelli about noon on Wednesday asking if I could find her wedding ring. She and her husband had been married for nine months and the ring was designed by her husband and custom made. She first called my son in law, David Cartee, who wasn’t able to help because of other obligations that day but he recommended She give me a call. Kelli’s ring was lost in a lake off a dock in Andalusia Alabama. It had been a couple day since she lost it. She got in the water up to about neck deep and tried doing a visual search but the bottom was muddy and she had no luck. Listening to her story I felt sure the ring had sunk out of sight in the mud. I told her I would help. I was in the Pensacola area at the time and Andalusia was about 2 hours away. I felt time was of the essence because I didn’t know that lake and fearing the ring might settle deeper in the muddy bottom over time. The lake turned out to be a reservoir used by the power company to generate electricity and the bank was very steep. When I saw how quickly the grade dropped off I began to worry about it having vanished in the deep water or my recovery activity dislodging it to deeper water. It was most important to plan carefully so that would not happen. I took my time making sure the search coil didn’t touch the bottom and to carefully completely search the area before moving my feet to deeper water. Fortunately I got a good signal, the ring had settled on a slope in about 5 foot of water. I set my recovery scoop and both husband and wife stood by in anticipation. I peered into the scoop then looked up at them and smiled, her beautiful precious ring was recovered and returned to her finger. Smiling faces and no more worries all around!
-06 11.57.17 copy
Tom called today, he told me he lost his wedding ring while at the beach at North Beach, (LBI) New Jersey. Tom said the ring was in his hand, and he fell asleep in the chair, when he woke up the ring was no where to be found. We arranged a meeting time, and discuss the details of the search. He asked me how likely I was to find his ring, and I told him 100% providing the ring is where he says it is. When I arrived we walked down to the location, and in less than three minutes the ring was in my scoop. Tom was amazed I was able to find it that fast. I told him that’s how it goes when the location is correct. .
