Gold ring lost in San Francisco Bay….RECOVERED!!!
Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP 925-580-2590
The sun had set 30 minutes earlier and the fog meant no moonlight would be available. The tide was going out of the San Francisco Bay at a rapid clip. The water temperature was approximately 53 degrees and the ambient air was about 55 degrees. I dressed in my farmer john wetsuit and fired up the Equinox 800 knowing that this recovery was possible, but would likely be difficult.
Earlier in the evening, Ben contacted me stating that he had lost his heirloom gold wedding band at a private beach club while performing a “plunge” in the bay. He could narrow the search to a 10×10 foot area of water about waist deep. The request was made for immediate mobilization for a recovery effort.
After meeting Ben at the Aquatic Park, he escorted me to the beach location… a beautiful little private section of the beach along docks housing historical ships for the maritime museum. An aesthetically pleasing and adventurous treasure hunt was now under way.
I entered the water for a hasty search of the area and made 4 passes from the top of the beach to chin deep water. The only light was provided by the headlamp I donned on my head. The water was void of any targets. I had to test the coil against the sand scoop to be sure it was functioning proper.
On the 5th pass I hit a jumpy 16-17-21 target in chest deep water, the only thing I had detected in 30 minutes of searching. It would take several attempts to collect the object in the sand scoop, but upon inspection…a ring, a gold band…WE HAD MADE THE RECOVERY!!!
If I’m being honest, this was one of my proudest recoveries. I felt the part of a true treasure hunter searching cold water, in the dark, beneath the tall ships of the maritime museum. The owner of the ring, Ben was both astounded and grateful that the ring he once thought lost was back in its rightful place on his finger.
Thank you Ben for entrusting me with the recovery of your very precious ring. It was a pleasure to assist you.
Ben was ecstatic to have his 10k heirloom wedding band back on his hand!
Bens 10k Gold Heirloom Wedding Band.
Night Shot of the search area.
Search Area without supplemental lighting.
As seen with headlamp.
Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP 925-580-2590