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Permission to Help Find and Return a Ring on NSS, Cape Cod, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)

August 12. 2025 A beautiful day a the beach was coming to its end and Matt had the urge to get a few more splashes in the rough waves before the sun set. But as it happens more than one can imagine he was hit by a wave and in that moment his wedding band slipped off his finger onto the wet sand. There was nothing Matt could do but watch it get swept away by the receding wave. The next morning he reached out to me for help. My first thought was that of it being on Federal Property, on which metal detecting is illegal. But, it may be possible to get special case by case permission to search one small area for a specific amount of time for a specific object. Or at times a Park Ranger may do the search themselves. The only other determining factor for me to go for the search would be the surf action, it can be so rough it could be life threatening.

All that being said, Matt wanted to get his ring back to his finger. He started the “Try to get the right person to give permission” which proved no easy task. First a phone call, no success. Second in-person visit to the NSS Visitor’s Center, again no success. Back to the phone, this time to a emergency number he found on the internet site. The dispatcher said she would have someone call him back. Success. Permission was granted for a “TheRingFinder” to search in the area he lost the ring during the one evenings low tide time and that the Rangers on duty would be informed of the situation. It was a go for me.

I had been on another such search about a month ago. I did not find the ring and was beat up by waves, that for a detectorist concentrating on the searching endeavor, could rip him off his feet. If it happened, his scoop could be ripped from his hands and lost into the surf. Likewise a detector may be lost. I know my limits, the dangers and to give up when the object is not worth tempting such dangers.

This search started with only short boots and a detector that had better trash rejecting tuning capabilities. That did not go well as I thought it might. But I had to go with the best equipment for the given search area. So, when I got to the water line with only two iffy targets, I went back to the car and got ready to detect in the water as far as I felt safe. That also did not go as I thought it would and as the sun was setting I was going call it a bust but I would make one last pass. In the surf wash of only 2 inches the only good signal hit my ears. One shallow scoop, a quick rinse and there it was, Matt’s wedding band. As I walked to Matt, I told him I though he was the luckiest son-of-a-mother and that’s a lot of sons to be luckier than. His reaction was such that I knew I was the lucky one to have retrieve and returned such a sentimental ring and return it. You now know why I enjoy my metal detecting hobby so much: Memory making emotions top the list.

Lost iPhone 16 Recovered at Lake Tahoe

  • from Carson City (Nevada, United States)

Mike, family and friends rented kayaks at Timber Cove Marina for an afternoon paddle on Lake Tahoe. Staying close to the shoreline, they headed west towards El Dorado Beach. About halfway the typical afternoon waves knocked into Mike’s kayak causing him to drop his iPhone 16 Pro Max into about 7 feet of water. The turbulent water had mixed the loose algae on the lake bottom obscuring any sign of the phone. Mike’s cousin contacted me and scheduled an earlier morning search. His cousin also provided an accurate pinned location. The search location was about 60 feet offshore, so it only took about 30 minutes of driving to locate his phone. And the good news—the phone was still working.

Lost Gold Ring Recovered at Tahoe

  • from Carson City (Nevada, United States)

Sunday, August 17th, 2025: Received a Lost Ring notification via a referral from Ventura County Ring Finder, Dave MacDonald, who was contacted by a guest at the Tahoe Beach and Ski Club in South Lake Tahoe. Jason’s gold wedding ring was lost in the sand near the resort’s south beach boundary. Fortunately, family and friends had use beach chairs to mark off the ring loss area. After a few questions, I began the grid search. Within 45 seconds I got a solid signal and scooped up the lost ring. Everyone was happy for a quick recovery.

How to find a Lost Ring in the Ocean, Ship Bottom NJ, LBI, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

Tom’s story is a perfect example of how a nearly devastating loss can turn into a moment of relief and joy. After enjoying time in the ocean with his daughter, losing his wedding ring to the surf seemed like a final blow—especially with the relentless waves making it disappear instantly. Tom’s quick thinking to post on Facebook led him to me, NJ Ring Finder. Tom called later that day and we spoke in depth to ensure I had the most precise details for a successful recovery.

Originally, I had planned to head out the same night, but with low tide not until late, we decided on a search for the following morning, almost 48 hours after the ring was lost. I arrived early, set up my search grid, and began working in the rough surf. The process was slow, and it was tough to get signals, but I kept at it. Tom sat nearby, watching quietly, probably doubting that the ring would ever be found after so long.

During the search, a young metal detector enthusiast approached with his mom, curious about my work. I shared that I was searching for Tom’s wedding ring and encouraged them to stick with the hobby. As I took a moment to review Tom’s photos again to make sure we were in the right area, I felt hopeful that we hadn’t missed anything. After making some adjustments, I returned to the water and, at last, got the signal I was waiting for.

In situations like these, it’s critical to dig carefully, as losing the ring deeper into the sand could make it impossible to find again. On my first scoop, I checked the hole—no signal remained. I could only hope the ring was in my scoop. When I saw that flash of yellow gold, I knew I’d found it. Tom’s wedding ring had survived nearly 48 hours in the ocean, and seeing the relief on his face when I handed it back was truly rewarding.

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Lost Heirloom Sapphire Ring in Deer Lake…Found !!!!

  • from Spokane (Washington, United States)

Lisa sat quietly at the edge of a dock she had been visiting since she was a little girl. While recalling all the fun memories, Lisa felt the need to feel the cool water of the lake one last time before her vacation was over. With a quick jump Lisa dove headfirst in the deep green water. The rush of the coolness and the excited arm movements brought Lisa back to the surface but sent her late mothers heirloom ring sinking deep into the abyss. The quick fleeting elated feeling she had, vanished as she actually felt the ring slide off of her finger. There was no time to waste. The news of the lost ring made it back to her family at the lake house. The idea of a lost ring sparked a memory in the mind of Lisa’s daughter Samatha. She had seen The Ring Finders videos and looked up the website.

As I sat baking in the warm morning sunshine, I got an unknown number on my cell phone calling me. Samatha was the caller and had found my finders page and was asking for my help. However, the urgency of the call became apparent, when she said she had to take a flight home at 4pm that day. As quick as a comic book superhero could change out of his street clothes and into his super suit, I packed up all of my gear and headed to Deer Lake. I met Samantha and Lisa at the dock, and we went over the details of how Lisa lost her ring. Then the meticulous task of a solo dive began. No step can be missed. Hook up regs to the tanks, turn on air, check mouthpiece and pressure, spit in face mask, put on fins and Bcd. Double check the air and pressure. Then over the edge of the dock I went. I searched for about an hour with no luck. I came back to the surface to let the silt die down and realign my search grid. The second dive turned up a bunch of cans but no ring. With 1000 psi left in the tank I came back up. As I was looking for Samantha, she came walking up to the edge of the dock. She had to go catch her flight. So, as she left, she told me to look more to the left of my dive line. I took her advice and moved my line a few feet over.  As I started searching again, I found another can but after that signal a low but steady signal screamed in my headphone. After pinpointing the target, I activated my patent pending grab and pull method. As the silt clouds plumed over my head, I felt a hard object touch my fingers. As it bobbled around in the mud, my finger slipped through the hole in the middle of it. I frantically moved my hand towards my mask to turn on my GoPro so I could capture the moment I found Lisa’s ring.

After quietly celebrating, I heard the urgency clock ticking in my head. Had Lisa and Samantha left? Can I catch them before they leave? All these thoughts ran through my head as I slowly ascended to the surface. The dock was full of people that knew I was looking for a lost ring. So, a small celebration happened as I popped out of the water saying, “I Found it”. After, I had to make my way back to shore to shed off my gear and then make the all-important call to Samatha. “Are you still here? ” I asked her after she said hello, she replied with a ” Yes”, so I said, “I found it “. The news spread through the family’s home like emotional waves and Lisa and her sister embraced each other as they both cried happy tears.

Lisa and Samatha came back to the dock to reclaim Lisa’s ring. I was so happy that I didn’t have to spread my wings to catch them in midair. I would have gladly done so to see the smile Lisa had on her face. That beautiful sapphire ring was the last item her late mother had given her before she passed away.

If not for Samatha’s redirection I would of ran out of air and postponed the search. Sometimes the smallest adjustments make the most profound changes, always listen to what is being said and react accordingly.

 

 

 

 

Engagement Ring Found At Grand Haven State Park

  • from Holland (Michigan, United States)

Tom Townsend gave me a referral and Nicole texted me that she lost her ring yesterday while swimming at the beach. She gave me good information that she was out in the water in front of the number 6 flag pole. After about 30 minutes I found her ring in about 3 feet of water. I met her on her way home from work and handed over the beautiful ring. Her quick response for help made all the difference as Lake Michigan likes to bury rings forever in a short time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Found Gold wedding band Sarcuse lake, Indiana

  • from Bristol (Indiana, United States)

Brooks aunt got a hold of me and said her nephew lost his gold wedding band while he was floating on the inner tube just off the end of the pier on saracuse lake. I went over there and she said it was in about 3 feet of water about 15 feet from the end of the pier. So i grabbed my gear a went out there therw first good signal i scooped up and there it was. I think it took me 5 minutes to find he was very happy.

Using google translator to help find ring

My wife Marilyn, received a call today from a woman speaking a different language.my wifethought the woman may have been speaking .German. My wife could understand that the call focused on a lost ring but the woman didn’t speak French or English. My wife suggested using Google translate with SMS  which seemed good. The woman’s husband lost his ring in a beach in Cannes, France . Once we started using the translator, things went smoothly. After we were through with a prior scheduled event, I loaded up and , except heavy traffic, everything went well. I had the husband put rocks on the wet sand for markers and he told me that he was waist deep when he lost the ring. Fortunately, his wife had a matching ring. So, I tested the VDI reading on her ring …Couldn’t have gone any better 3-5 minutes later I found a target and…BINGO. Although we didn’t speak the same language, his smile spoke volumes!

 

 

Three Extremely Sentimental Gold and Diamond Rings Lost In The Kennebunk Kennebunkport Surf And Sand. Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

After finding an antique engagement ring, in an Acton, Maine pond, on Wednesday, I was certain I wouldn’t be called out again. Boy, was I wrong. At approximately 4:10 pm, I had a phone call, from a foreign country. The number was +44 **** ******, UK. I was in no way, answering a call from the UK because of all the scammers that call, on a daily basis. I let the call, go to voicemail. This is the transcript of that voicemail

“Hi, I’m looking for Dennis Boothby. I’m staying at the The Nonantum Resort, in Kennebunkport Maine. My name is Marguerite A***** and we are in room ***. I talked to the lady, driving the bus and she said you might be able to help. I’ve lost some rings, on the beach, Gooch’s Beach. I wonder if you could call me back, my number is, at the Nonamtum is 207-***-****. The UK number is +44 **** ******. Thanks so much.”

I immediately called Marguerite back and she told me that she had lost
“Not 1 ring, not 2 rings, but 3 rings. They are very special rings and I hope you can help. You have come highly recommended”

Marguerite then told me that she and her husband, Chris were staying at The Nonantum Resort and had taken the Nonamtum ‘s shuttle bus, over to Gooch’s Beach, enjoying the day, at the private beach area of Gooch’s Beach. Marguerite had taken her three rings off, to apply lotion and had placed the rings, in her lap, intending to put them back on. As she was sitting there, at the high tide mark, a very large wave rushed up at everyone, on the beach. She was startled by the wave and immediately jumped up, as the wave rolled past her. Her three very special rings landed in the surf, as the wave rolled past. When the wave retreated, she and Chris started looking for the rings. Even other beach goers were helping to look, for the now lost rings. Someone gave Chris a sifter and he would sift the sand, from the area, but couldn’t find the rings. They were convinced the rings had been pulled down, towards the water, as the wave retreated. I told Marguerite that it is my experience that the rings would be very close, to where she lost them and I would leave immediately and meet her and Chris, at Gooch’s Beach. Marguerite then told me that Chris had placed a log right where they had been sitting, so they would remember, where they had been. Perfect and brilliant. As a side note, the original name of Gooch’s Beach, was Boothby’s Beach, back in the early 1700’s. Could this be a good omen?
Cheryl and I arrived at Gooch’s Beach and the parking was horrendous. We drove around a few times and someone was finally pulling out. I parked in that spot but it was all the way on the opposite end of the beach, up near Lord’s Point. Once parked we walked down to the other end of the beach and Marguerite was there waiting and she recognized me. She told me Chris was walking down to the Private Beach area, to start looking again. As Marguerite, Cheryl and I started walking down the beach, Marguerite told us she had been wearing these extremely sentimental rings for almost 35 years. The rings were an Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring and a large special ring and she was heartbroken that she had lost them. Once we arrived at the log, Chris pointed out the area where they had searched and I could see all the areas, where the sand had been dug through. Both Chris and Marguerite thought the rings had been pulled out towards the water but I told them I didn’t believe that would be the case. I turned my metal detector on and asked Marguerite where she had been sitting. She pointed out the location and as I put the detector, to the sand, I received a loud signal and I could see two different non ferrous targets, on my screen. One registering a 28 and the other a 34. I hadn’t even swung the metal detector and I have received two very promising targets. Could this be real? Did I just find two of Marguerite’s very special rings, without even swinging my detector? WOW! I took my pinpointer out and located one of the targets, a gold ring, with rectangular diamonds, all the way around. Marguerite immediately let out a shriek of happiness. I located the next target and I saw another gold ring, this one with what appeared to be a large emerald with a diamond, on each side. UNBELIEVABLE !!!! Marguerite and Chris were in disbelief and just beaming with optimism, that I would locate the third ring. This would be a large gold ring, with diamonds all around. As I stood up and started to swing the detector, I received another very loud low tone, ringing up as a 68 on the VDI screen. This could not be happening. Did I just find the thing ring with just a partial swing. I could see Marguerite very excited and once I located the target with the pinpointer, I started wiping sand off the top of it. All of a sudden, I saw a perfect circular piece of gold. Marguerite screamed out in happiness. I took a photo, just as it just laid ,in the sand. I then picked it up and put it on its side, took another photo and then passed it to Marguerite who at this point, must have thought she was in a dream. Convinced her rings had been pulled out to sea, only to have someone show up and find them, without fully swinging his metal detector. I mean, I myself was thinking this was a dream. Marguerite and Chris have been married for over 34 years and the thought of losing these exquisite rings was just gut wrenching to them. To see their faces go from anguish to joy, in a matter of seconds is something so special to witness. Cheryl and I were just so happy for Marguerite and Chris, that they wouldn’t have to take their flight, across the pond, to London, without these very, very special rings, that hold so many memories. These rings could never, ever be replaced because of all the memories they hold, for Marguerite and Chris. It’s such a great feeling to be able to help people like Marguerite and Chris, in their time of need. As I often say, every ring has a story and now these three rings have one heck of a story to tell, all the way Bain the UK.

Platinum ring recovered from Kent beach

  • from Kent (England, United Kingdom)

Liam contacted me regarding his lost Platinum wedding ring , which slipped off his finger at high tide on a beach near Herne bay on Saturday whilst kayaking, luckily he had a very good idea where his wedding band had fallen .

I met up with Liam this morning and after a 10 minute search of the area of beach that his wedding band had disappeared, my Manticore detector hit on a very solid repeatable signal of 15 , and just 3 inches deep in the shingle was Liam’s wedding band , another precious ring reunited with its extremely grateful owner , thanks to theringfinders.com