Ring recovery I won’t forget- Pensacola Beach
Yesterday afternoon, as I was heading home from work, I got a call from Devon. The week before, I had been away for the holiday and had to turn down several people needing help, so it felt especially good to be available — and to have my gear in the car — when Devon called.
Devon had lost something incredibly meaningful over the weekend: his grandfather’s ring. It had been passed down to him to wear on his wedding day and had been in the family for 55 years. He lost it while throwing a football in the Gulf late at night, and he said one of the hardest things he’s ever done was call his grandfather to tell him it was gone.
Thankfully, a coworker who heard him talking about it at work knew what I do and suggested he give me a call.
We met at the beach, and Devon was clearly anxious as he explained where he’d been in the water. I started making passes with my detector, pulling out some trash at first — each time hoping it might be the ring. I reminded myself that God’s will would be done either way, and I settled in for the hunt.
Eventually, I pushed out deeper into the June Grass — and that’s when I heard it. The unmistakable tone of gold.
I scooped up a mix of shells and sand — and there it was: Devon’s heirloom ring.
He hadn’t seen me find it, so I walked over and joked that I was taking a break because there was just so much random metal out there. I held out the scoop casually and said, “Take a look at the stuff I’m finding.”
Devon leaned in… and then saw it. His expression shifted from worry to absolute joy. He grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a hug.
He called his wife right away with the good news — but the best moment came when he FaceTimed his grandfather. The shock and joy on his face said it all. He said, “I can’t believe it,”!
I was thrilled myself. Moments like this are exactly why I do what I do. I’m incredibly grateful I could help continue the story of this special ring.
Congratulations, Devon — and thank you, and your colleague, for trusting me.
Jason asked if I could look for his wedding band that he was sure was lost forever. Gave it a 3% chance of finding but had me look anyway for closure. He estimated it was lost on a sandbar in the gulf about 50 feet off shore and within a 250 linear foot sandbar. I Started a grid and found it just about in the center of the area. Jason was attending to his baby back at the condo when I found it but the rest of his family and in-laws were watching my progress from the beach. Everyone was impressed with the recovery thinking that the search was a folly. Jason was extremely happy and I’m sure the rest of his vacation was regret free. Glad I could help! 
Sue lost her wedding ring set at Gulf Shores a couple day before calling me for help. She didn’t know where to go and it took a day or so to find someone who could help. I told her i would be there first thing in the morning. I met her where she and the family were staying and we walked to the beach area she thinks it was lost. She wasn’t sure how it was lost, where it might be or if it was even on the beach but felt hopefully it was on the beach. She talked about the day it was lost and her activities and locations. The house and car had been searched and it wasn’t there, so logicly it must on the way to the beach or somewhere on the beach. She showed me the various places they were on the beach and the routes to and from those various places. With that information I put together a search plan and proceeded. After about 30 minutes and after digging several other targets I got a very good signal and knew i found something good. I dug it and showed it to Sue who shouted you found it! She was very, very happily. I’m glad I found it for her, it made both our days. 
