underwater metal detecting Tag | The Ring Finders

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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18k English Gold Wedding Band Lost 16 Years ago in Professors Lake, Brampton, Region of Peel, ON

  • from Brampton (Ontario, Canada)
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I was contacted by James way back in late February of this year inquiring if I could search for his lost wedding band and what the process is. The 18k English gold wedding band was lost within 15m of the edge at a specific spot into Professors Lake in Brampton, ON. His wedding band was actually lost 16 years ago!

I explained that I would need special permission to search that area of the Lake and I would start early to mid summer if permission was received.

I reached out to James in early June and was connected to his Father-in-Law Brian who is a local resident in the area of the Lake.

After weeks of trying to obtain permission I received the go-ahead from Commissioner Parks prior to his retirement.

The next day I had teamed up with James’ Father-in-Law Brian unbeknownst to James and we proceeded to the area. I was also very grateful for my work colleague Carlos for keeping an eye on the situation as I deemed Brian my water safety spotter.

With-in 20 minutes of entering the water, pulling out old pop cans, a glass jar, fishing lures and garbage, I heard the sweet tone of gold on my underwater metal detector. I pulled out the underwater pin pointer and zoned in on the lost wedding band. WE FOUND IT!!

Check out the video of the entire process;

Next day I met with Brian and proceeded to FaceTime James pretending to ask more questions about the lost wedding band. We completed the task of surprising James with much surprise and delight. James then planned to surprise his lovely Wife on their 17th Wedding Anniversary day while spending it with Family. It was priceless!

James had also inscribed the wedding band with “What was lost is now found”. Beautiful.

Thank you James for your charity donation to The Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation! This is part of my pay-it-forward program as I don’t take a reward. The donation assists breast cancer patients with financial support for items such as medicines, wigs, rent or food on their table! I am truly grateful for the benefits from my work place.

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Tiffany and Company platinum wedding band lost in DUBE Lake, Orrville, Seguin, Parry Sound, ON

  • from Brampton (Ontario, Canada)
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Tim and Family were enjoying a peaceful summer vacation at a tranquil cottage on Dube Lake in beautiful Orrville, Seguin Falls in the District of Parry Sound, Ontario! Absolutely amazing area in Northern Ontario Muskoka’s cottage country!

Tim went in for a dip in the refreshing waters, pushed off the dock approximately 10’ to 14’ out, waved his hands and his Tiffany & Co platinum wedding band was not longer on his left ring finger.

With the help of a Google search, ‘The Ring Finders’ directory popped up and Tim was referred to my Ring Finders home page and blog recovery stories.
I had a lovely sunny fresh morning 3 hour drive to Ontario’s fabulous cottage country!

Met the family, geared up, coaxed the snapping turtle “Fred” to relocate, and Tim showed exactly what he doing when he lost his wedding band in the 6’ wide by 12’ length area.

Off I went into the very dark waters to start my underwater search with the Dive BLU3 Nomad battery operated hookah air system, my trusty Minelab Excalibur2 underwater metal detector and the Deteknix pin pointer.

Once I was approximately 10’ out I was 12’ depth and I heard the unmistakable tone of platinum on my detector. It was complete black visibility even to turn on my pin pointing. I had to move up to 6’ depth to see the on button and then proceeded back down to the target area to re-locate Tim’s wedding band.

Finally l, with the help of the pin pointer, I was able to here / feel the ring just tucked in behind a branch and popped back up to the surface to surprise Tim and Family!

It took roughly 7 minutes because of Tim’s accuracy of the area where he lost his wedding band! I love “quickies”!

Check out the video and please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE;

Thank you so very much Tim & Family for the generous donation to The Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation on behalf of my work! Tim receives a tax receipt for his wonderful donation!

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Prescription Ray Ban sunglasses lost in the waters of Lake Muskoka, Port Carling, ON

  • from Brampton (Ontario, Canada)
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Had a message from repeat customers Ellen & Stephen that their Friends were visiting their home in Port Carling.

Their Friend tried out the paddle board and unfortunately tumbled into the water just off the dock area dropping his prescription Ray Ban sunglasses into the water below. The depth was approximately 8’ deep with half decent visibility and they knew the exact area.

I used my Dive BLU3 Nemo battery operated hookah system which has a 10’ hose and was perfect for this recovery.

I proceeded to the area and caught a glimpse of the inside white portion of the plastic arms in a matter of 10 seconds!

Check out the video here;

An awesome surprise to Ellen & Stephen to recovery their Friends prescription Ray Ban sunglasses in such little time and not even needing my underwater metal detector!

Thank you Ellen & Stephen for your donation to the Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation as part of my pay-it-forward fundraising efforts!

I use my passion for metal / scuba / hookah dive detecting to raise donations as I’n in my 14th year participating for this wonderful charity!

 

 

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iPhone 13 Lost and Found Under Water, Occoquan River, Virginia

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
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August 7th: Found and returned an iPhone 13 Pro Max lost from a dock.

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

Ash was working hard at his job with the Carefree Boat Club when his phone slipped out of his pocket and fell into the water. His brother, Time, met me in Woodbridge after I’d recovered a ring and asked me for a business card. Ash called me using Times phone and asked for my help. I agreed to meet Ash at the dock the next morning.

Search Area

Mrs. Ellis (my safety diver) and I arrived around 11am. As always, we checked the conditions before unpacking the equipment. While on the dock, we met Time who showed us where the phone was lost. When Ash arrived, he provided a detailed description of the incident and location. Visibility in the water was about two feet, and the water was about nine feet deep.

Water View

When the phone landed in the water, it planed, much like a paper airplane does when it’s thrown. It ended up under the dock. Nevertheless, I recovered the phone in a record breaking 6 minutes! As I touched the phone, I was surprised to see the screen light up. However, I should not have been surprised, as the newer iPhones are quite water resistant.

Ash, Rob, and Time

Ash’s iPhone 13

 

 

 

Thank you to Mike from Penguin Paddling (Home Page Penguin Paddling LLC), who rearranged the Kayak rental fleet for our dive! And thanks to Ash’s brother Time, who remembered me from a previous ring search!

Rob Ellis: Search and Recovery 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 call to see if I can help.

Rob Ellis: Search and Recovery Expert… Call/text ASAP, (703)-598-1435    (20+) Robert Ellis | Facebook

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Aggie Ring and Wedding Ring Lost in MUCK in Ennis, Texas Lake

  • from Dallas (Texas, United States)
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We got a call from a young man who had been riding a horse with his wife and decided to cross the lake to the island in the center.  As they entered the MUCKed Up section the young man’s horse sank up to his belly in the MUCK.  He crawled off his horse and crawled through the MUCK to the shore.  Concerned that they would need a tractor to get his horse out he sent his wife to get a ranch hand to assist.  But the horse was able to break free and get himself out.  Then he realized that both his Aggie Ring and his Cobalt Ring were gone.  He looked over at the MUCK and thought the worst.  He may never see his rings again.

Then he checked the all knowing “Google” to rent a metal detector and during his search the Dallas Ring Finders listing came up.  We scheduled to come in the next day.  We were able to locate both rings in under a minute, see the full video on our channel “Dallas Ring Finders”, another happy customer  for the Dallas Ring Finders.

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Gold Ring, Lost and Found Under Water, Woodbridge, Virginia

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
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June 28th: Underwater Metal Detecting, Ring Returned.

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

EZ Cruz Marina

John was enjoying an afternoon of boating with his father and rest of the family on Father’s Day. They stopped at EZ Cruz Marina to fuel up, and John jumped into the water. His beautiful ring decorated with diamonds and Claddagh symbols slipped off his finger. John called and we arranged to meet at the marina.

Search Area

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Ellis (my safety diver) and I arrived around 10am, we introduced ourselves to the EZ Cruz staff, and started to prepare. We evaluated the conditions. Water visibility was poor, and the water was about seven feet deep. When John arrived, he showed us exactly where and how he jumped in.

FOUND!

Ladder Entry

Circular Search Device

 

I decided to use my circular search pattern device I made just for these types of situations. Entering the water around noon, I worked through various trash targets including weights, glasses, and fishing rods. After about an hour I was able to find John’s beautiful ring!

Ring

 

 

Smile!

For my detecting friends, my Equinox 800 with a Coiltek 10×5 had a VDI of 22-24 for ring of un-known gold content.

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 call to see if I can help.

 

 

 

(20+) Robert Ellis | Facebook

 

 

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Lost and Found Ring, Underwater, Port Royal, Va

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
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June 2nd, 2022: Rob and Ray Recovered a Tantalum Wedding Ring lost in the Rappahannock River

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

 

Ray with stick showing depth

On the last day of April, Scotty was fishing off the end of a pier when his new wedding band slipped into the water. He quickly noted where the ring had dropped in relation to the wooden structure. Because I was not available to search, I asked my friend Ray Jones to help. The depth off the fishing platform is about neck deep, depending on the tide. In spite of a current and low visibility, Ray was able to remove many misleading targets consisting of lead weights, fishing lures, coins, and other items. Even though he was wearing a wetsuit, Ray was unable to remain in the cold water and called off the search for that day.

 

 

 

Ray

I joined Ray for the next search. Because of conflicting schedules and storms, we were not able

Rob and Ray

to meet until June 2nd. I was the lucky one to find the ring, but it was truly a team effort.

 

 

 

Scotty Smile

Scotty’s Tantalum Ring

 

Ring Underwater

Crawdad Helping Me Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my detecting friends, the Tantalum ring had a 23 VDI on my Equinox with a Coiltek 10X5.

 

 

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

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

(20+) Robert Ellis | Facebook

 

 

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

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

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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Plumber Looses Ring While Digging Ditch in Dallas

  • from Dallas (Texas, United States)
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We got a call from a local team of plumbers who were digging a ditch in the cold December Texas weather and one of the men lost his wedding ring.  He was frantic, fortunately, we were available and went quickly to the site.  The hole was 4ft deep and full of horrible muddy water and muck.  After several passes with our large Metal Dectortors, we switched to our handheld detectors and checked all the walls by nearly standing on our heads reaching into the mucky muddy water hole.  But luck & skill were with us and we FOUND the man’s ring.  He was so excited, it was so funny watching 4 big plumbers jumping up and down and dancing in the front yard of the home.

Another successful Find for the Dallas Ring Finders

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