#how to find a ring in the water with a metal detector Tag | The Ring Finders

White Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Ocean Park, Maine Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Wednesday, July 2nd, as I was driving, I heard a G-Mail notification, on my phone.

“My husband lost his ring in Ocean Park. I don’t have phone service to call because we’re Canadian. Any chance you could come out?
Thanks,
Heather “

I pulled over and replied
“Hi Heather, Did he lose the ring in the Dry Sand or Water?”
Heather replied that her husband thinks he lost his wedding ring, in the water. They are staying on Temple Ave, in Ocean Park, Maine and had walked down to the beach.
I then messaged Heather and told her I would head straight home, get my equipment, and head straight to Ocean Park. We made plans to meet at the beach access path, at the bottom of Temple Ave., in approximately 25 minutes.
After retrieving my equipment, from home, I immediately headed to Ocean Park and I was met by both Heather and her husband Quinton, at the bottom of the Temple Ave, beach access path.
After introducing myself, I asked Quinton to run me through the events, preceding him losing his White Gold Wedding Ring. Quinton told me that once he and his family arrived at the beach, he applied lotion to himself and then walked down to the water, with his children. As the children were playing in the water, Quinton was also playing around with the children and they were in approximately 4’ of water, just prior to low tide. After playing in the water for a while, Quinton noticed his wedding ring, was no longer, on his finger, while in the 4’ of water. After visually searching the ocean floor , Quinton and Heather went back up to their chairs. Heather then put a Facebook posting, about her husband, losing his wedding ring and if anyone finds it, to please contact her. Almost immediately people were commenting on her post and telling her to call me. Heather told me the comments were extremely positive about me being able to help that she decided to contact me, via the email.
As I was walking down to the water I asked Quinton if he knew the area, he was in with his children and what time he noticed his ring missing. Thankfully he knew the exact area but he lost it around 10:00am and it was now close to 12:30am. Not only has the ring been in the ocean for 2 1/2 hours, the tide was now coming in and had been, for an hour and a half. When the ring was lost, it was lost approximately an hour, before low tide and he was further out, in 4’ of water. The water would be deeper now but I needed to try and find the ring. I fired up my detector and headed out into the incoming tide and waves. Quinton accompanied me out into the water, to get his bearings and put me in the right location, which was between the signs on BillowHouse Beachfront Boutique Inn and The Nautilus at Ocean Park Beach. Maybe 100’ to 150’ between the signs and who knows how far out, into the water, would be my grid search area. Once we were in the water we went out as far as we dared. The waves were very large and a few of them literally were over my head. I had to jump straight up to avoid being slammed by the waves. After 15-20 minutes of being battered by the waves, Quinton and I exited the water. There was no way I could get any further out, with the tide coming in. I told Quinton and Heather, I would be back, the next morning between 9:30am to 10:00am. This would give me 2, 2 1/2 hours of searching, by following the tide out. I would search the wet sand, in the event, the ring was moved by the large waves and pushed closer to shore. I didn’t really think this would be the case but I just needed to cover all bases and search the area.
So this morning, my wife Cheryl and I headed to Ocean Park, hoping the waves weren’t as big as yesterday. Cheryl brought along her beach chair to enjoy the day, after her daily 5 mile walk, as I intended to search for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I brought two different metal detectors with me. A Minelab Manticore, with a 15” coil and a Minelab Excalibur, with a 10” coil. I planned to search the wet sand with the Manticore because of the large coil. I could cover the wet sand, fast and efficiently. The Excalibur is a waterproof diving metal detector and to me, is much easier to swing, in the water, waves, currents, etc.. The Manticore is also waterproof but I just feel much more comfortable with the Excalibur, in the water and definitely more comfortable with the Manticore, on the wet and dry sand. My plan would be to spend an hour or so, grid searching the wet sand, waiting for the tide to recede far enough out, that I could reach the area Quinton had been in, the previous day. Thankfully, the waves weren’t as big as yesterday but still big enough to knock you off your feet, if you weren’t paying attention and definitely big enough to just knock you around.
After an hour or so of grid searching the wet sand, I decided it was time to venture out into the water, hoping I wouldn’t get too battered around. Once in the water I would grid search the area by going straight out, as far as I deemed safe and would the take a half step, to my side and head back towards shore. I did this because I can keep a better grid search line by lining up with something on shore. I would just go out, come in, go out, come in and work my way from the Nautilus sign, to the Billow sign. As I made my way towards The Billow House. I saw Heather in waist deep water, with her children, as they caught the waves, with their boogie boards. I had covered a large portion, of the area, and with maybe 45 minutes of searching left, I told Heather it wasn’t looking good. Heather understood the difficulty of the search but kept hope alive. As I made my way to shore, I was about to turn around and head back out to the deeper waters, through those dang waves. I saw Cheryl standing at the water’s edge. I exited the water and updated her on the search. After finishing the update, with Cheryl, I re-entered the water and headed back out towards the deeper water. When I got to about knee deep or maybe a little deeper, I heard a nice loud low tone. This was absolutely the best sounding target, I had had all day. Unfortunately, The target was right where the waves were breaking. I didn’t dare to take my eyes off of the waves, while I tried to juggle my detector and scoop. I yelled over to Heather and asked her if she could hold my metal detector, while I tried to scoop up the target and keep an eye on the ever coming waves. Heather immediately came over and took hold of my detector. I kept the target, under my right foot, as I would brace for the waves. After a few waves went by, I saw an opening and I pushed the scoop into the sand, pulled up a full scoop of sand. I then shook the scoop in the water to wash the sand out. I could hear something in the scoop and when the sand was gone I looked into the scoop. A big smile broke out as I saw a big ring. I then tilted the scoop towards Heather to show her the ring. Her hand immediately went to her heart and she couldn’t believe it. She was so happy and she just kept thanking me. She also waved to Quinton, to come on down. I saw him running down to the water’s edge and Once he arrived, I showed him the ring and he gave me a big hug. He also kept thanking me and was just so overjoyed, at having his ring back. He told me he just felt naked without his wedding ring of 16 years. Now it’s back on his finger, where it belongs and he will sleep well tonight, knowing his ring is not on the ocean floor.
It’s truly a pleasure helping others out in their time of need. There are many, many rings, lost out in the water, that are never recovered. Thankfully, this isn’t one of them
I have the best job in the world.❤️🙏

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Gold and Platinum Wedding Ring Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Recovery and Return #45

As I was driving, my phone rang. I then saw a voicemail, had been left. The transcription of the voicemail was as follows

“Hello Mr. Boothby my name is William B****** . I am in vacation luxury beach . I just lost my ring, my wedding ring . I did it, in front of the Seawatch Condominiums, at high tide. Right around the junction where the water was just highest, near the dry sand so not in the water. It was right in front of the Pink building. I am leaving tomorrow back to Quebec City and I am leaving at 9 AM. So, if you ever have an opportunity, to come check it out and I don’t know how The Ring Finders of Maine thing works. Call me back 5**-***-****. It would be really really appreciated so please call me back thank you . My name is William B****** thank you bye…”

The voicemail had been left at 4:48pm and I immediately called him back. He and his wife were at the beach, but couldn’t find the Wedding Ring. I told William that I could be there, at approximately 6:30pm. I needed to get home, get my metal detecting gear and drive to Old Orchard Beach. I also told William that I do not charge, for my time or my Emergency Metal Detecting Service. I do require a $10.00 Transportation Fee, to cover my gas, tolls and wear and tear, etc.. William readily agreed to that.

Once I arrived home, I called William and told him I would be there within a 1/2 hour. William and his wife, would meet me, at the end of Cleaves St., Between The Seawatch Condominium and the Sandpiper Beachfront Motel.

If you know anything about Old Orchard Beach, Maine, you know that parking, is very difficult, to say the least. My wife often drives me down, drops me off and will return, to pick me up later. I can’t tell you how much this helps me and she is an absolute angel, to support me, in this Ring Finder endeavor. So, a BIG shout out to my beautiful wife, Cheryl ❤️. She’s a real trooper, for putting up with me.

Once I arrived, I was met by William and he immediately took me down to the area, where he “Thinks” he lost his ring. When asked, he told me the Wedding Ring was Gold and Platinum and he just got married, a month ago. Wow, another newlywed. Plus, they were leaving, in the morning, going home to Quebec City. I just had to find it for them.

His wife Gabrielle was standing in the location , of where they hoped the ring would be. William and Gabrielle explained that they had been, at the beach, most of the day. They had taken a few walks, along the beach, swam in the ocean and when the tide came in, they were throwing a football around, at the high tide line and the dry sand. It was at this point, late in the day, that William noticed his ring was missing. Could he have lost it, in the water, on one of their walks or when he throwing the football? Both William and Gabrielle thought and were hoping it would be in the dry sand, where they were throwing the football.

William then showed me where he and Gabrielle were standing, while throwing the football. Approximately 50 feet separated the two of them. I then asked William if he was left or right handed. He is left handed, meaning the ring could have come off, and flown towards the water, at high tide. I decided to perform a grid, starting where William was standing, to approximately 5-10 feet past where Gabrielle was standing. I would also start approximately 5-10 feet to the left, of where William was standing, in case the ring flew off, towards the water, at high tide. I also want to search this area of the dry sand, because the beach cleaning machine, rakes the beach up and removes all the trash, from the beach. If I didn’t find the ring, before the beach was cleaned, the ring could be lost forever, in a landfill somewhere.
On my first pass, towards Gabrielle’s area, absolutely nothing. I then pivoted 1/2 step to my right, turned around and started back towards William. Approximately 5 feet, from where William had been standing, while throwing the football, I heard a very nice low tone, through my headphones, of my metal detector. I then looked at my VDI screen and saw a reading of 12-23. A very good sign, and exactly the reading , I would expect, for a Gold and Platinum Wedding Ring. I then turned around at looked at both William and Gabrielle and told them, “I think this is your ring”. I was that confident. William and Gabrielle walked towards me, as I plunged my pinpointer, into the sand. I immediately found the target, pulled a handful of sand up and there was a Gold and Platinum wedding ring. I had found his ring, right where they thought it might be and found in approximately 2 minutes.

They were both smiling , from ear to ear and were just stunned, with joy and disbelief I had found his ring. William put the ring, back on his finger, as quickly as he could. Here’s wishing many, many years of marital bliss to this young couple. I am just so happy to have been a part of getting this ring back to him.

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Lost Gold Ring Found And Returned, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I was searching for a Gold Ring, in Ocean Park, Maine, on Saturday, June 8th. The ring had been lost, a full week earlier, but my client wasn’t aware of my services, until she read about a recovery and return, the night before, in Old Orchard Beach Maine, by me, The Ring Finders of Maine. A gold ring, lost for a week, on the beach, is not impossible to recover, just very difficult. Anything could have happened, including, she was mistaken about where the ring was lost, tides have come and gone or even another detectorist, could have found it.

Anyways, As I was searching, I felt my phone vibrate, in my pocket. I saw I had a voicemail, from an out of state phone number. I read the transcript and it said

“Hey Dennis , how do you do. My name is Tom. We are here for a few days and the wifey thinks she lost her ring where she is sitting, on the beach. Could you please give me a call at your convenience. I appreciate it. Call 4 1 3-***-****, Thank you “

I immediately called Tom back and he explained to me that his wife were staying at The Royal Anchor Beach Resort, an ocean front resort , near the Town of Scarborough, Maine and Pine Point Beach, Maine. The Royal Anchor’s front desk, gave Tom my business card and encouraged him to call me. Tom told me that his wife had taken her ring off, to apply lotion. A little bit later, she realized she didn’t have her ring anymore and since, she hadn’t left the area, the ring should be fairly close to their beach chairs.

I told Tom I would be happy to help but would be approximately 1 1/2 hours, before I finished my search in Ocean Park. Tom replied, no problem, we are just sitting on the beach, for the afternoon and aren’t going anywhere. I told him I would call him, as I was leaving Ocean Park and would only take me a few minutes to get there, as I was only 3-4 miles from The Royal Anchor.

1 1/2 hours later, I finished up my 1st search, unsuccessfully and called Tom to let him know I would be there, in 5-10 minutes. Tom told me they were still sitting on the beach and they had the only 2 red beach chairs, there.

When I arrived, at The Royal Anchor, I saw Tom and his wife and the two red beach chairs. I introduced myself to Tom and his wife, Nancy. Nancy explained what had happened and it was exactly as what Tom had told me. Nancy hadn’t gone anywhere, since the ring had gone missing and was sure, it would be in an area around the chairs. Tom and Nancy had searched the sand themselves but could not locate the ring. Nancy also told me that the ring was Yellow Gold, with 3 Blue stones, set in it. Nancy then told my wife and I that the ring was a 50th Birthday present, from her father and that yesterday, June 7th, was her Birthday. Yikes, no pressure on me now. I just had to find her very sentimental ring.

I had Tom and Nancy, move the metal chairs back a little bit, so they wouldn’t interfere, with my detector. Once the chairs were out of the way, I started passing my detector’s coil, over the area. Within 10-15 seconds, I received the unmistakable sound of gold. I was so confident of this that I told Nancy and Tom that this would be their last lost ring. I plunged my pinpointer, into the soft dry sand and found the target. Put my hand, into the sand and nothing. Put my hand in a little deeper, and I could feel the round ring, pulled it out, saw the Yellow Gold and 3 Blue Stones and Told Nancy, “I got your ring “. She and Tom were elated and Tom even said something to the effect of “what took you so long. It took you like 10 seconds “ and we all laughed. Tom also stated that he couldn’t believe how deep the ring had already become and that they would never have found it that deep. The ring had worked its way down to the 5 inch area, in just a few hours. This most likely happened because the ring was heavy, the sand was very dry and while searching for the ring, Tom and Nancy, may have pushed it a little deeper. So thankful that a ring given to Nancy, by her father, as a 50th Birthday present, is now back on her finger, the day after her birthday. I just absolutely love do this.

The staff of The Royal Anchor cheered for me, after the ring was found and thanked me for coming and helping their guests. I also left more of my cards with them and they assured me, they would definitely call me when my service is needed, in the future.

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