rob ellis ring finder Tag | The Ring Finders

Smartwatch found underwater, Pleasants Landing Marina, Lake Anna, VA

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
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November 9th: Found and returned a Samsung smartwatch lost in October.

I am 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

 

It was a warm October 21st, so I decided to do some underwater detecting at Pleasant’s Landing on Lake Anna, Virginia.

Pleasants landing serves as a park and a marina. Shaped like Florida with over 2,600 feet of Lake Frontage, there is lots of room for all lake activities. Pleasants Landing is one of two public beaches on Lake Anna with the other being at Lake Anna State Park.

Upon arrival, I met Mike and Esmond and asked if I could do some shallow diving. They gave me permission and pointed out that it was good timing due to less boat traffic around the docks. Just off the beach, I found modern coins, sunglasses, and fishing weights. I found nothing of value, but it’s still a fun way to keep up my skills.

 

Before my second tank, I met and spoke with the marina service manager, Vincent. He told me there were a couple of boat gas caps right off the fueling dock. I did a quick exploration around the dock area and picked up some fishing rods, sunglasses, two gas caps, and a large watch. After the dive, I showed the staff my finds and gave Vincent the gas caps to be reused if at all possible. It wasn’t until I got home and washed the layer of muck off the watch that I discovered a Samsung smartwatch.

Unfortunately, the battery had run out and I had no way to trace the owner. I took me a while, but I finally figured out how to use reverse wireless charging with my phone to charge the watch. After a few phone calls, I was able to contact Joey, the owner of the watch. He couldn’t believe someone found his watch and had given up on ever seeing it again. We were able to meet up at Pleasant’s Landing where I was able to return the watch.

Esmond, Joey, and Rob

Don’t give up. Many of my clients have bought, borrowed, or rented a metal detector and then called me. Just because you have a tool, doesn’t mean you know how to use it. I have thousands of hours detecting 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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Engagement ring found underwater, Jack’s Waterfront Bar, Morehead City, NC

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
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I am 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

September 27th: Recovered an engagement ring lost in 20 feet of water.

Jack’s Waterfront Bar in Morehead City has a deck built over the water with a beautiful view. It was a great location for Ashley and Jon to become engaged with a gathering of family and friends. Jon had a ring specially made to match the wedding band which belonged to Ashley’s mother. They were posing for photographs on that Friday evening the one of a kind ring was dropped.  It rolled between the boards and into the water! They hired a local salvage diver who searched with a metal detector, but he could not find the ring.

Jacks Waterfront Bar, Morehead City, NC

Google Map: Dot showing location of search in Morehead City

Enter the heroine of our story–Megan, a good friend of the couple, contacted the creator of The Ring Finders, Chris Turner. Chris put her in touch with the very successful Ring Finder in our region, Brian Rudolph. Brian is incredible at researching all the information needed for a big job like this. He even spoke with the salvage diver to get the details on the environmental conditions.  Unfortunately Brian was unable to make the trip, so he referred Ashley and Jon to me. Brian contacted me and gave me the information he had about the conditions.  I got a text from Ashley and we discussed the possibility of a search. As luck would have it, we were planning to leave the very next day for a family vacation to Nag’s Head, NC.  Since we would be in NC, a twelve hour round trip would be cut in half.

My son Matthew gave up his first day of vacation to join me as my safety diver. We shared the driving and enjoyed the time together. Arriving at the site early Monday afternoon, we met Ashley, Jon, his dad Trevor, and Uncle Sonny. They showed us where the ring dropped, and then took a boat across to Sugarloaf Island to wait with their three large dogs. The floating dock in front of the bar became my gear staging location and made entering and exiting the water easier.

In the water

Search Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using Brian’s excellent information about the diving and bottom conditions, I had all the equipment needed for the search. The water was 75 degrees, it was high tide, and visibility was about four feet. I was well into my preliminary search with a pin-pointer detector, when just at the edge of my view, something large swam past. As it passed by in the murky water, I saw the tail and realized it was big sting ray. The graceful visitor certainly made me a little more aware of my surroundings…

The area under the bar’s dock had the usual discarded building materials mixed with shells, silt and other trash. Because the ring might be masked by other metal, I needed to carefully check all signals. I found screws, bits of aluminum, and coins. After about an hour I surfaced to change tanks and warm-up. While on the dock, a fisherman was getting ready to drop bait. After my encounter with the large ray, I didn’t hesitate to ask him to move farther down the waterfront. Thankfully he did.  While on my second dive, I heard a lot of boat traffic noises as fishing charters returned from their offshore trips. Matthew had been following my search from above and suggested I concentrate a little farther west from our weighted drop line. I took his advice, and that is where I found Ashley’s ring. I surfaced and shouted with joy! It must have been pretty loud because the family heard me from the island and headed our way.

Ring!

Returning to the Dock

 

 

 

Back in Hand

 

 

This Says it All

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were enjoying the elation of the find, Trevor mentioned it was good I was out of the water because of sharks. Matthew and I looked over at the nearby dock as fishermen where cleaning their catch and dumping the remains into the water. While we were driving back to Nags Head, Megan called to congratulate us on a successful recovery.

Matthew Jon Ashley and Rob

There were some things about this recovery that were serendipitous. First, Megan called Chris Turner, creator of The Ring Finders directory. Second, we were leaving for NC the day after Ashley called. Next, Brian’s details were spot on, and fourth the weather was beautiful. Fortunately, there was a floating dock (not shown on the satellite photo) and was a slack high tide. My son was available to be my safety diver, drive, and help with the heavy gear. Finally, my skills, experience, and equipment were crucial to locating the ring.

 

Several weeks later, Matthew sent me some pictures of large bull sharks caught at the same location of our search. Mentally, I know I’m not on the shark’s menu, but it was a lot easier to be brave before seeing those photographs!!

From Aug 2018 Topsail Online Gazette. About 9 feet long…that is Jack’s Bar in the Background!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t give up. Many of my clients have bought, borrowed, or rented a metal detector and then called me. I have thousands of hours detecting on land and underwater. If you have tried using a detector without success, please call to see if I can help.

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

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Found engagement ring in yard, Fairfax, VA

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

I am 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

 

August 29th: Found and returned a silver engagement ring lost while doing yard work.

Sabawan lost a ring while seeding his lawn. He and his family searched for several hours before calling me. Two hours later, I arrived and meet Sabawan and his cousin. We walked the yard and they showed me an extensive area where they had been dethatching and re-seeding the lawn. Although Sabawan didn’t feel the ring leave his finger, he had confidence it was in a particular area on the left side of the lawn. After setting up my grid, I searched toward that particular area. As Sabawan and his cousin watched, I hit upon a target indication in the correct range. Using my probe, I scraped the fresh dirt and seed, uncovering his beautiful ring.

Sabawan Smile!

Afterward, Sabawan showed me some photos of his beautiful bride to be. It is my sincere hope she has a safe and rapid journey out of Afghanistan.

 

I am 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

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Found Chain and Cross, Crosspointe, Fairfax Station, VA

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

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

August 20th, 2021: Found and returned a cross and chain, Fairfax Station, VA

On a rainy afternoon I decided to practice detecting in my pool’s sand volleyball court. I enjoy the practice and I like helping by cleaning out the trash. I used my larger coil and removed the usual toy cars, odd pieces of metal, and even the occasional screws and nails from the nearby wooden fence. The lifeguards on duty told me someone lost a chain earlier that summer. They remembered a family raking through the sand to no avail. After cleaning out the larger targets, I went over the area with my sniper coil.

I didn’t find the chain, but I did find a small gold cross. I didn’t think it was particularly valuable and tossed it into my recovery bag. When I showed it to the lifeguards, one told me he thought the chain had a cross. Unfortunately, none of the staff on duty knew the contact information for the chain’ owner.

When I got home and looked at the cross more closely, I saw it was a lovely piece. I posted a photo of it on the local Nextdoor and Facebook groups. I posted flyers at the pool. A lifeguard named Cassie saw the flyer and called the owner, Marina, giving her my phone number. Marina texted me, and I called her immediately. Marina explained how much the cross means to them, as it was given to her daughter by Marina’s mother.

Marina Smile!

Thin Chain

I met Marina and her daughter at the pool to return her pendant, and to get details about how and where the chain was lost. Using this new information, I again searched the area. I marked off an area in the sand and began another search. Marina and her daughter watched for about 10 minutes, but had to leave for an appointment. Twenty minutes later, I picked up a faint signal and uncovered the thin chain. I texted Marina to let her know and gave the chain to the staff for her to pick-up. I’m so glad to have reunited this irreplaceable jewelry with the rightful owners.

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Lost and Found Ring, Woodbridge, Virginia

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

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

July 25th, 2021: Found and returned an antique ring, Woodbridge, VA

 

Jonathan was having fun playing Frisbee fetch with his dog in the field behind his home. When he went back into the house, he realized the ring he inherited from his grandfather was missing. He immediately retraced his steps and visually searched the field. Then he obtained a metal detector and searched again, but there was too much EMF interference and too many targets. While researching how to find a ring, Jonathan read an old post on Redit recommending The Ring Finders. He contacted my friend Ray Jones (571-258-7217), but Ray knew he would be delayed, so he asked me to take over.

100×50 area

The next morning I made the 30 minute drive and met Jonathan. We walked the field and he showed me where he was throwing and walking. Jonathan was very helpful in defining the boundaries of activity and explaining how the ring might have come off. I set-up my search grid lines and started sweeping the area. After covering the field where Jonathan was throwing, I expanded to where he had picked-up his dogs waste. I heard the detectors signal saw the lovely ring at the same moment. There it was, sitting on a patch of dead grass. We had both walked over the spot, but never saw the ring. I marked the location and texted Jonathan “I found it!” As we walked over, he and I both remarked how easy it was to see…when you knew where to look!

Grandfather’s Ring

Jonathan Smile

Don’t give up. Many of my clients have bought, borrowed, or rented a metal detector and then called me. Just because you have a tool, doesn’t mean you know how to use it. I have thousands of hours detecting on land and underwater. If you have tried using a detector without success, please call to see if I can help.

I am expert 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

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Ring lost in Burke, Virginia found and returned!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

July 23rd, 2021: Returned ring lost in shallow water, Fairfax County, VA

I was eating dinner when I got a text from Isabella. Earlier that day, she was playing fetch with her dogs in a local lake.  She lost the ring while throwing a stick. When I called, she explained the stainless-steel ring belonged to her recently deceased father and it was very important to her. I quickly grabbed my gear and we met at the lake.

Isabella led me through the woods to the spot she was exercising her dogs. While throwing, she felt the ring slip off, but didn’t see it or hear it hit the water. I asked her to throw a stick to observe her technique and how far she was throwing.

The water was about knee deep, and there were weeds and silt. There were so many potential stainless-steel targets, I focused only on shallow hits. I concentrated in potential areas in which the ring may have landed based on how Isabella threw the stick.  I expanded my search to the left. Within a few minutes I reached down into some weeds to pull out a beautiful, shiny ring with diamonds! I immediately texted Isabella “I found it!”. After hiking back to the parking lot, I handed Isabella her ring.

A special shout out to Isabella’s friend Danielle, who had heard about The Ring Finders. Thank you for telling Isabella about our international online directory of metal detecting specialists.

I am expert 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

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Wallet lost underwater in Annapolis, Maryland, found and returned!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

July 7th, 2021: Recovered wallet underwater in Annapolis, Md

Here it is!

Bill’s wallet was missing. He deduced it must have slipped out of his pocket while stepping out of his boat to the dock. Though he searched in the murky water, it was too deep and muddy for him to search effectively. Since Bill kept two metal keys in his wallet, he thought it might help while searching with a metal detector. He was correct. Modern credit card chips are detectable, but they are weak targets. Without the keys, a search next to his dock would be by touch alone.

After an internet search, Bill found my information and called me to arrange a search. Upon my arrival, we walked down to the dock so I could observe the area and plan my underwater recovery. Bill had really thought through the most likely location of the wallet.  Because he didn’t see or hear it drop, I thought it was possible the wallet could be somewhere else, and a dive would unnecessary. It turned out the one place Bill didn’t look was in the family cars. I asked if I could search his vehicles, and Bill was happy to oblige. The searches turned up two very neat and clean cars, but no wallet.

I got my SCUBA gear loaded on Bill’s garden cart and we went down the large hill to the dock. I did a quick reconnaissance with snorkel gear and determined the water was about eight feet deep. Visibility was very poor and the bottom was covered by a deep layer of silt. I donned my SCUBA gear and began my search. As anyone who detects next to mature docks can verify, there are usually many metal targets. When I heard a probable hit, I used my fingers and raked through the muck. On the seventh target, I reached out and felt the shape of a wallet! I carefully closed it and placed it in my finds bag. I immediately surfaced and waved to Bill and his mother who had joined him on the dock.

I know how devastating it feels to lose a wallet. A modern man has a lot of important things he depends on in that piece of leather. I felt a great deal of joy when I handed that wallet to Bill. Afterward he looked at me and said, “Now I don’t have to go back to the Motor Vehicle Administration!”. That I could help him avoid a trip there, made me even happier!!

 

Bill Smile!

Wallet

Rob & Bill Smiles

 

I am expert 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

 

Note to other U/W Ring Finders:

6×8 finds bag with Velcro closure

My custom finds bag is designed by Instructor and master detectorist Ed Finck of Woodbridge SCUBA. It’s made of very durable mesh, with a brass snap clip.  I recommended it to all my underwater TheRingFinder friends. Please note I receive nothing in return for endorsing this bag. I just want to see more cool stuff for detecting!

 

 

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Gold pendant lost for 11 months, found in Richmond Virginia!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

June 18th, 2021: Recovered a gold pendant missing for 11 months in Richmond, VA.

Ashley lost a delicate 10k pendant almost a year ago while having a family celebration in her yard. She had given up on finding it, until she came upon my contact information on TheRingFinders.com. The pendant has a great sentimental value for Ashley as it was a gift from her mother, and could not be replaced.

After arranging a date and time, my son Matthew and I arrived at Ashley’s and she provided us a detailed account of the activities from the party.

There were two areas where Ashley’s chain may have broken. One area was around a portable pool. The other possible search area was where she and her guests had played human bumper ball. Both areas are on the side of the house. Matthew and I set up search grids and combed the area. We found several targets which sounded like 10k gold, but no luck.

After a couple of hours, we expanded the search area toward the back of the house. A few minutes later, I heard Matthew say those wonderful words, “Dad, we found it”!

Uncovered!

pendant

 

As you might imagine, Ashley was elated and we all celebrated a joyful outcome to the search.

Surprise!

Reunited

 

Rob and Ashley

I am an expert 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

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Lost Sapphire and Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings, Midlothian Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

March 15th 2021: Found a wedding band and engagement ring lost while playing softball.

 

Jocelyn, her husband and friends were playing family style softball in a field behind their house. She removed her beautiful rings and put them in her pocket before starting to play. After the game, she found her rings missing! Family and friends searched the field for several hours. They even borrowed a metal detector and a rake, to no avail.

Field

 

 

Jocelyn then turned to the internet to seek professional help.  She found my contact information on The Ring Finders site (https://theringfinders.com/Rob.Ellis/) and texted me the next morning.  I made the 2 hour drive to Midlothian, Virginia to assist Jocelyn.   When we met, I could see the disappointment in her eyes.  She probably thought the rings were gone for good. After showing me the field, I assured her there was a good chance of recovery.

 

 

 

 

First Ring

I began my search pattern in the area behind “home plate” and worked toward the “outfield”. I searched into the woods several feet on either side of the field. Within 40 minutes I located Jocelyn’s wedding band to the right side of the home plate area. I left the ring exactly where I’d found it, marking the location by sticking a pencil into the ground.

 

 

 

2nd Ring

Over the next hour and 20 minutes, I searched the rest of the field. I then expanded the search area behind “home plate” and recovered the second ring. I marked the location of the second ring using a softball.

 

 

 

 

I sent a text to Jocelyn asking her to join me. When she arrived, I showed her the pencil indicating the location of her wedding band. She was incredibly happy to have her wedding band back, but the engagement ring held more sentimental value. I then asked her to pick-up the softball and, to her amazement, there was the ring.  We both shared the delight and relief of finding her treasures.

Smiles!

 

Please see this short video for a recap of the search, recovery and return:

 

I am expert detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

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Lost Diamond Earring, Vienna Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

October 15th, 2020: Fairfax County gave permission to search park, and I recovered a diamond earring

Sydney was playing with friends on the field at Nottoway Park when she realized one of her lovely diamond earrings, a gift from her father, was missing. She looked for it, but quickly realized the impossibility of finding it in the grass. She contacted me and we discussed the possibility of a search. Sydney was a great help, obtaining photos which showed her earring on her ear for part of the event,and then showing how it was missing later. I think she was a detective in another life…

 

Nottaway Park is part of the Fairfax County Park Authority and is adjacent to the historic Hunter House mansion. To use a detector in a county park is forbidden.  The County rightly is concerned detectorists will dig up the lovely fields. They are also very protective of historic sites like the Hunter House. I’m very grateful to Ms. Stratford of the Park Authority.  She contacted various County departments and encouraged them to give me permission to search. Also, a shout out to the maintenance manager Mr. Sullivan who postponed grass cutting so I could search.

 

Without boring you with too many details, let me say this was a very difficult recovery. It’s like searching for a needle, in a haystack full of needles. I used a small coil on the end of a special detector so I could hear small items like earrings. To cover the field I needed to scan every inch. Think of it like painting a floor with a 4” brush.  It took six trips to the park, and 21 hours to find. When I saw the look on Sydney’s face, it was so worth it!!!

 

 

Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

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