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39th Wedding Anniversary to Myrtle Beach S.C., foiled by mishap with Man’s Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This adventure started when I got a voice message on October 12, 2026, at 9:23 a.m. saying in part, “This is David calling. I lost a ring in the ocean. We’re staying at the Dayton resort in Myrtle Beach. I’m wondering if the ring can be found or we can at least try.” I answered the call mid-sentence and talked with David. He advised me that he lost the ring last Wednesday, which was 5 days ago around 12 to 1 p.m. in waist deep water.  A quick look at the tide table for last Wednesday showed he lost it right at low tide. He also said he was between waist to chest deep and wasn’t really sure of the area. There were a whole lot of bad possibilities with this search. One, waist to chest deep at low tide, Two, not real sure of the area, Three, we just had hurricane Isaias that brought in lots of sand and heavy surf, Four, lost 5 days ago, and Five that part of Myrtle Beach is heavily detected, especially after a storm. Ok, it was worth a shot, plus I have a hard time saying “no” to someone asking for help. Looking at tide tables again, I saw today’s low tide was going to be around 3:30 p.m. I asked David if he could meet me there about 2:30 to show me the area. He agreed and we set the time for 2:30 p.m.

When I arrived on the beach, I met up with David, his wife Donna and their two daughters Janaya and Aundrea. Aundrea was the one that found me through Google and referred me to her dad. Janaya is the one that first realized her dad had lost his ring. They were sitting around the pool and Janaya asked her dad, “dad, where’s your ring?” Guess things went downhill from there, because he had been in the ocean and really had no idea where the ring had come off. Janaya had told me that her dad had gotten knocked down by the waves and used his left hand in the sand to push himself back up. So, I suspected that’s how his ring came off. I asked David where I should start the search and how far over I needed to go. He set me up at the corner of a resort that was getting remodeled and had cranes next to the building. His end point was the third resort down from there. All told, it was about a football field size area.  I started an east/west (shore to ocean) grid search out to where the waves were hitting the breakers and was about stomach deep. In the process, I ran into another three guys detecting. One, a friend said he had been out there Saturday and there were 7 other people with detectors. Something I’ve noticed though, is most people detecting stay in the wet to dry sand, I rarely see anyone in the ocean detecting. After about 2 hours with no success, I met up with David. He asked if I’d mind starting at my original starting point and work a little more to the north. I was probably 5 or 6 lines north of my starting point and waist to stomach deep when I hit an iffy signal. Knowing I was looking for a man’s thin gold wedding band, I was expecting anywhere from a 13 to an 18 on the Equinox VDI (visual display indicator). This target was jumping from 13-15. It took me 3 full scoops of sand to finally get the target out of the hole. On the third scoop, I washed the sand out and heard the distinct sound of metal rattling in the metal scoop. I looked in and saw a thin yellow gold wedding band that matched David’s description perfectly. BINGO! I walked out of the ocean trying to figure out a good surprise for David and Donna when I ran into Janaya and Aundrea walking up the beach. I put myself between them and David and Donna, who were sitting up in the dry sand and told them, “Don’t show any excitement, but is this your dad’s ring,” as I held it up. Their eyes got big and both said “yes” at the same time. I told them, “Let’s go surprise your mom and dad.” We walked up to David and Donna, and I don’t remember how I did it, but they were both shocked and amazed that his ring was found. We took lots of pictures and their Anniversary vacation was saved. I love returning people’s special treasures when they thought they were gone forever.

David, Donna, Janaya and Aundrea – You are an amazing family, and I am so glad I could help find David’s treasure back where it belongs. Plus, I got a chance to meet you all. Thank you for trusting me to help find his ring.

Jim

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White Gold Wedding Band and a University of Virginia (UVA) Class Ring Lost in North Myrtle Beach, Found and Returned.

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On Sunday, October 11, 2026, and just after 12:30 pm I received a text saying, “Hey Jim, this is Marc. I’m currently staging in north Myrtle Beach and lost my wedding ring and class ring at the beach. Are you working today with your detector?” I checked the tide tables in case this would be a water search and then called Marc at the number that was attached to the text. First question I asked was if the rings were lost in the water, and Marc replied “no.” He went on to say that he had placed his rings on a towel and forgot about them until after he left the beach. I told him to send me an address where I could park and told him I’d be there in about 10 minutes.

When I arrived at the rental where Marc and some friends were staying, I met Marc in the driveway. We walked down to the beach, and he pointed out the area where they were sitting and his towel was. I started a north/south grid line from the suspected area to the slope and wasn’t having any luck. I stopped and talked with Marc to make sure I was in the right area. I asked him which way he was facing when he picked up his towel, and he said he was facing towards the dunes. So, I moved a little farther up towards the dunes and continued my grid search. It wasn’t long until I hit a solid 11 on the VDI (visual display indicator), telling me I hit white gold. I dug a few scoops and then saw his wedding band lying embedded in the sand at the bottom of the hole. I reached down and picked it up, cleaned the sand off it and held it up for Marc to see. He confirmed it was his wedding ring. Now I needed to find his UVA class ring. I continued with the grid search and couldn’t find it. I started over and did a cross grid and still no ring. About the only place left to search was the beach access route. As I’m finishing up with that, I noticed a gentleman come up and talk with Marc. As Marc caught up to me, he told me the gentleman told him he had found a UVA ring and turned it into the beach patrol about 11:30 a.m. I called the beach patrol number and gave Marc my phone to leave a voice message. Shortly after I got home, I got a text message from Marc saying, “I just got the second one a bit ago from beach patrol!” Both rings are back where they belong.

Marc – Thank you for calling and trusting me to help find your lost rings. So happy you got them back.

Jim

 

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Pocket Knife Lost in the Soft Sand, Found and Returned Sunset Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Just after 9:30 am on 9/20/26, I got a text message saying, “Gary on the pier gave me your number. I lost a knife on the beach by the 38th street public access. Wondering if you could help. I’m not worried about the knife as much as a child finding it. Let me know. My name is Tim.” I didn’t notice the text until 11 a.m. so I called the number attached to the text and got a few more details from Tim and told him I’d be there in 30-35 minutes.

When I arrived, I met Tim on the beach, and he walked me to the loss area. He had marked out about a 10X10 foot area that the knife should be in. He told me the knife had been sitting on a cooler and when he and his wife packed up to leave, the knife was gone. He also mentioned he had spent 2-3 hours last night looking for it with no success. I turned my Equinox on and started an east/west grid search at the far corner of his box. On my second pass I got a strong 19/20 on the VDI (visual display indicator) and dug a scoop of sand. I had the target out of the hole and dumped the scoop of sand out on the beach. I spread the sand out with my foot and saw his knife lying in the sand. Tim was very grateful to get his 15-year-old knife back in his possession.

Tim – Thank you for calling me to help find your lost knife.

Jim

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After she said “Yes” to His Proposal, Her Silver Engagement Ring Slipped into the Ocean, North Myrtle Beach SC.

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On Wednesday September 2, 2026, and just before 8 p.m., I received a phone call from Kenneth saying he had lost a silver engagement ring in the ocean. He continued by saying that he had proposed to his Fiancée, Alli and within a few seconds, he heard her say, “Oh NO!” when her ring had slipped off her finger at the edge of the water and disappeared. I got the address and was on my way.

When I arrived, I met Kenneth on the beach, and he showed me the area. The problem was it was Pitch Black outside, and he wasn’t sure of the exact location. So, I was looking at a pretty good size area. I started a grid search at what was thought to be the far north end of the area. After about an hour, I called it a night. I couldn’t see my grid lines and was just wandering aimlessly in hopes of hitting the ring with the Equinox 800. I told him I’d be there the next morning at low tide.

The next morning when I showed up, there was another guy detecting the area. I was confused and Kenneth said someone had responded to his post on Facebook and had been there since 5:30 a.m. When I talked to the guy, I found out he was a Ring Finder from NC and was on vacation. He had seen the post and thought he’d lend a hand in finding the ring. I got a better idea from Kenneth of where the ring was lost but it was apparent, by the scoop drag marks in the sand, that the area had already been searched. So, I did the top half of the beach with no luck. After a couple of hours of searching we called it. I wasn’t pleased with the results and had planned on redoing the area on another day.

I was busy for the next 2 days but was finally able to make it out on Sunday morning before low tide, 4 days after the loss. I started my normal east/west grid search, from the beach to the water, and at the southern point where Kenneth was positive they hadn’t been past. From the details Kenneth had given me, I knew the ring should be just above the low tide line, just not sure how far across the beach. Just around an hour of doing my grid search across the beach, I was about 15 feet out of the water and hit a loud and solid 21-22 on the Equinox VDI (visual display indicator). Those numbers told me there was silver under the coil. It took a couple of scoops, and the target was out of the hole. I spread the sand out with my foot and saw Kenneth’s silver engagement ring lying on the beach. I took a picture of his ring and sent it to him, then called him. He confirmed it was his. Tuesday, I got the ring in the mail back to where it belongs.

On Friday 9/11, Kenneth advised me he received his ring in the mail. The ring is back where it belongs safe and sound!

Kenneth – Thanks for calling me and allowing me to help find your lost treasure. I wish you and Alli all the best.

Jim

 

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Man’s Yellow Gold Class Ring Lost in the Ocean, Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach, SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On Sunday, September 6, 2026, I got a notification on FB about a gentleman who had lost his 20-year-old Patrick Henry Class Ring in the ocean. At 8 p.m. that evening I received a call from Emilia, the daughter of Osmin, the gentleman who had lost the ring. She told me he had lost it around 12:30-1 p.m. and was maybe chest deep. A quick check of the tide tables and that would have been roughly mid-tide with the next low tide happening just after 10 p.m. I told her that I could meet them at 10 p.m. I was watching the weather, which had predicted storms. And a little after 8 p.m., I text Emilia saying I was going to cancel that evening and would be there the next morning at 10 a.m., which was just before low tide.

On Monday just before 9:30 a.m., I sent Emilia a text saying, “On my way.” She acknowledged that she’d be waiting.  When I walked out on the beach, I met Emilia and her husband, Kenny. She told me her dad was away, but Kenny had been there when Osmin lost his ring. Kenny showed me what he remembered about where they were, and I started an east/west grid. I was using the beams on the Resort’s building as my landmark as I worked my way from North to South across the target area. As I got about halfway across the grid search, Osmin showed up and showed me about where he had been which I hadn’t gotten to yet in my search. I told him I’d keep working on my grid search so I’m not jumping from one spot to another. Osmin also said that he was trying to catch a ball that his brother had thrown, when the ball hit his ring finger and the ring slipped off into the ocean. I was just getting to Osmin’s suspected area when I got a solid signal and a 19-20 on the VDI (visual display indicator), those numbers tell me there’s a big gold ring under the coil. Dug one scoop, shook the sand out in the water and saw Osmin’s beautiful class ring in the scoop. I started walking towards Osmin and Kenny and stuck the scoop out for Osmin to retrieve his ring. Osmin’s big smile and a sign of relief make it all worthwhile.

Emilia – Thank you for calling me to help find your dad’s treasured class ring.

Jim

 

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Yellow Gold Loop Earring Lost in the Sand, Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On Monday, August 24, 2026, I received a voice mail saying in part, “Candy, lost a ring on North Myrtle Beach. Give me a call back and I just wanted to discuss fees.” When I called her back, she told me that a yellow gold loop earring had been lost in the dry sand and asked what I charge. I explained the details on cost, and she asked if I could come. I told her I’d be there in 20 minutes, grabbed my Equinox 800 and hit the road.

I called Candy as I was walking out on the beach and she waved me down. I found out that Becky had her earring fall out of her ear and she showed me a 2’X2’ square where the ring should be. I asked Becky for the other earring so I could test it. After switching to ‘all metal’ mode, I got a loud and clear signal. I asked Becky and the 3 other ladies to move their chairs. As Becky picked up her chair, I swung the coil over the area and Boom! I had her earring in my hand before she set the chair down. Becky was extremely happy as this was a past anniversary present, and tomorrow just happens to be her anniversary.

Becky and Candy – thank you for calling and trusting me to find your lost treasure.

Jim

   

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