This adventure started about 12:30 p.m. on July 23, 2026, when I received a voice mail saying, “Michelle, I lost my ring in the ocean.” I immediately called her back and learned her husband; Jonathan had his wedding band slip off in the ocean when he was hit by a wave about 30 minutes prior. I asked Michelle how deep they were when his ring came off and she said calf deep. I found out where they were and told her I’d be there in about 15 minutes. I did a quick check of the tide tables and saw I’d be facing an incoming tide. Plus, this time of the day would mean an increased sea breeze and building waves. Hoping for the best, I grabbed my Equinox 800 and headed out.
When I arrived at the travel park, I met Michelle at their RV, and we walked down to the beach. When she led me to where the family was sitting in the dry sand, I met Jonathon. I asked them what type of metal the ring was, but they weren’t completely sure if it was silver, white gold, or possibly Platinum. They told me that the ring had belonged to Michelle’s great uncle. They also told me that they had been married for a month and that today was their one-year anniversary of Jonathan and Michelle’s engagement. So, there was a lot riding on me finding this ring. I got a few more details on how and about where the ring was lost and then I followed Jonathan out into the ocean. I was getting concerned when we kept walking after getting to waist high water. I was also feeling the sea breeze pick up and the waves coming in higher and stronger. This was not going to be easy. I attempted to start a grid search back towards the beach, but I was getting picked up and moved by each wave. The little bit I was able to search; I did hit a solid 10 on the VDI (visual display indicator). I know a man’s white gold or platinum wedding band is going to ring up between a 9 and 12 depending on size. A man’s silver ring is going to ring up about 25. I was able to do a few swings of the coil and hit a target that showed a 10 on the VDI. So, as soon as I got the 10, I glanced up at the beach and got a landmark and took a quick scoop, hoping I had it. The scoop was full of nothing but small shells. Trying to find it again, the waves had moved me about 5 feet off the target, and I couldn’t find it again. We were within an hour of high tide, so I told Jonathan we’d both pace off the number of steps back to where they were sitting. Naturally we came up with different numbers; his were probably more accurate than mine, because I’m trying to keep the scoop from slamming into my legs and keeping the current and waves from pushing my coil into the sand and breaking it. When we got back up on the beach, I told him we had missed the tide, and I’d have to come back that night at low tide. We talked a bit and I left.
That night I got back about an hour and a half before low tide and tried doing a grid search. It was dark and I had a hard time trying to do any sort of a grid search. There was also a couple of fishermen out pretty close to where I was trying to search. They were wearing, what appeared to be car headlights as their head lamps. They kept looking in my direction and destroyed any night vision I may have had. I did what I could and after almost 2 hours, I called it a night. The whole time I was there, Jonathan and 2 others were sitting on the beach watching me. I told him I’d be back in the morning before low tide and start all over. Unfortunately, Jonathan and Michelle were leaving the next morning, but Michelle’s sisters would still be there.
Friday morning, I was there about 45 minutes before low tide and set up my east/west grid search. Conditions were perfect, so I was confident I’d find his ring. I started to the north of my landmark and worked south, keeping very tight grid lines out to about thigh deep. I finally got in line with the lone palm tree that was my landmark, walked about 10 yards out and got a solid 9-10 on the VDI. I know I had a big smile on my face. I dug a scoop of sand and shells and checked the hole, and I had the target in the scoop. I washed the scoop out in the water and started taking out small handfuls of shells. Finally, I saw Jonathan’s ring, which turned out to be Platinum, in the bottom of the scoop. I took a picture and sent it to Michelle with a text saying, “Yours?!?!?!” I gave her a couple of minutes and called her. When she answered, all I said was, “check your text.” I could hear them over the phone confirming it was Jonathan’s and their excitement. She said she’d call her sisters, Regina and Caroline and have them meet me on the beach. Both sisters showed up and were excited as well. They took the ring to give to Jonathan when they see him on Sunday or Monday. This was a tough one but well worth every second.
Jonathan and Michelle – Thank you for trusting and allowing me to help find your very special and important heirloom.
Jim
