Occoquan River Tag | The Ring Finders

Key Fob Found Underwater, by Rob Ellis, Occoquan VA

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

I am an expert metal detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Please text or call as soon as possible: (703) 598-1435

 

Christina and Derrick on their Wedding Day!

As Christina and Derrick were standing on the dock, her car key fob dropped and bounced into an opening, right into the water. The Penguin Paddling staff tried using a powerful magnet but couldn’t retrieve the keys. I got the call, packed my equipment, and arrived within half an hour.

Christina described how the key fob bounced and perfectly hit the water, right where two of the floating docks have a space of about six inches. After an exhaustive attempt at magnet fishing, they called me.

I dropped a weighted line from the dock where the key fob hit the water. I put on my SCUBA gear, descended and started my search from the drop area. It was dark and I was glad I had my underwater light. Within a minute I found it!

After I climbed back on the dock, we ascertained the inside of the key fob was dry and ready to be used to start the car. It was only then that Derrick and Christina told me they were in a hurry to get to the courthouse before it closed…TO GET MARRIED!!!

https://penguinpaddling.com/

Rob Ellis: Metal Detector Expert… Call/text ASAP, (703)-598-1435

Don’t give up. Many of my clients have bought, borrowed, or rented a metal detector before calling me. Just because someone has a tool, it doesn’t mean they know how to use it. I use state of the art equipment, and I have thousands of hours of experience searching on land and underwater. If you have tried using a detector without success, please text/call to see if I can help.

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SCUBA Recovery: Phone Found & Returned by Rob Ellis, Occoquan River, Virginia

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

I am an expert metal detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Please text or call as soon as possible: (703) 598-1435

 

Found and returned a Samsung phone, May 23rd, 2023, Occoquan River, Occoquan VA.

It was a beautiful afternoon when I got an emergency call for another lost phone. Despite recommendations from the staff of Penguin Paddling, people continue to carry their phones unsecured in rented kayaks. I packed my SCUBA and metal detecting equipment and arrived about 40 minutes later.

Yesbell and her children were waiting for me on the dock. They described how the phone was lost while exiting the rented kayak. I was grateful no one had tried to search and stir up the algae which was thick this time of year. If they had, would have been greatly reduced and I would have had to use my metal detector.

Upon entering the water, I did a visual grid search and found the phone within a few minutes.

Client photo is withheld by request.

Rob Ellis: Metal Detector Expert… Call/text ASAP, (703)-598-1435

Don’t give up. Many of my clients have bought, borrowed, or rented a metal detector before calling me. Just because someone has a tool, it doesn’t mean they know how to use it. I use state of the art equipment, and I have thousands of hours of experience searching on land and underwater. If you have tried using a detector without success, please text/call to see if I can help.

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August 2022: Found and returned two phones lost kayaking in Occoquan River.

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

I’m a Search and Recovery expert with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Please text or call as soon as possible: (703) 598-1435

Click Here for the Video Link!

Patrick and Kelly were regular renters of kayaks from Penguin Paddling, in Occoquan Virginia. Even though they were familiar with the river, disaster struck when there was an unexpected current. The kayak flipped and their phones sank. Patrick called and told me how one of the phones contained

The Dive Site

their wedding planning information. The wedding was only weeks away, and the information was irreplaceable.

Dive 1: Mrs. Ellis (my safety diver) and I met Patrick and as there was no shore entry, we canoed to the area where the phones were lost. Visibility in the water was about four feet, and the depth was about ten feet. There were large boulders and that meant I had to slowly search in every crevice. Fortunately, I only needed a light, and not my metal detector. There were eels, crawdads, fishing lures, and boat anchors wedged between the boulders. When you watch the video, you can see a barbell someone used as an anchor.

 

Entry Area

 

 

 

First Phone

I searched the drop area and found Patrick’s phone in about twenty minutes. Kelly’s phone had the wedding information. We spent the rest of the afternoon searching for her phone, but to no avail.

 

 

 

Ring Finder Ray Jones

Dive 2: Two days later, Patrick again met to continue the search and help with all the equipment and the canoe. I expanded the search area but did not locate the phone.

Dives 3 & 4: It wasn’t until five days later that I was able to make another search. This time my friend and fellow Ring Finder Ray Jones came to help. Ray also searched the area and did not find the phone. I modified my search with ropes using a modified jackstay to search further downriver. I finally found Kelly’s phone about 130 feet from the initial drop area.

Kelly’s Phone Found!

 

Smiles!

I removed the SIM card and put the phone into a bag of rice. The happy couple met with me the next day so I could return the phone. Despite being underwater for nine days, Kelly’s iPhone was able to charge her phone and she retrieved their wedding plans!

Happy Wedding Day!

My thanks to Mike from Penguin Paddling (Home Page Penguin Paddling LLC), who referred me to Patrick and Kelly. Patrick was a great beach watch and provided an excellent account of the incident which greatly aided in the search. Most of all thank you to my wife for her safety and Dive Master support and expert bubble watching for many hours.

 

Rob Ellis: Search and Recovery Expert… Call/text ASAP, (703)-598-1435

 

(20+) Robert Ellis | Facebook

 

Don’t give up. Many of my clients have bought, borrowed, or rented a metal detector before calling me. Just because someone has a tool, it doesn’t mean they know how to use it. I use state of the art equipment, and I have thousands of hours of experience searching on land and underwater. If you have tried using a detector without success, please call to see if I can help.

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