The Atlantic Ocean Makes the Catch! Man’s White Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC
This search started on Friday, Aug. 8, 2026, when I got a text just after noon saying in part, “Hi Jim, Found your number in ring finders. We are currently staying at the Shelby in Myrtle Beach. I was having a catch around 12pm today ankle deep with my son. Wedding band flew off my finger. Locals told me about the site. Wondering if it’s something you may help me find. I’ll try to find a picture of it. It’s silver color, with a Celtic design. My name is Bob and he added his phone number. I was between the south tower of the Shelby and the main tower, probably not much past where their tiki bar is at their pool.” I looked up the current tide table and saw it was about 45 minutes before high tide. So, he lost his ring just about mid-tide and it would be completely under water by the time I got there. I called Bob and we discussed the situation with him telling me that he and his family had plans for that evening and wouldn’t be able to meet me. It’s very helpful to get first hand and face to face information so I agreed to meet him in about 30 minutes.
I met Bob on the beach and he explained the details, like being ambidextrous and writing with his right hand but throwing with his left hand. He also showed me the small area he was standing at the top of the slope and about where his son was at the bottom of the slope. I told him I’d be back around 6 to work the outgoing tide.
When I returned that evening, I started an east/west (shore to thigh deep) grid search, concentrating on the bottom of the slope. I covered the entire area plus extending the search area on each ends. This was the cleanest beach I’d worked in a while, 1 bottle cap, no coins or pull tabs, and a full tooth gold plated silver grill, but no ring. By that time, it had gotten dark and I didn’t bring my head lamp because I didn’t think I’d need it. So, I started about shin deep and worked a north/south grid working towards the low tide line. I was right at the bottom of the slope and got a little chirp. As I dug sand out the hole the signal got more pronounced and louder. After 4 or 5 big scoops of sand, I finally had the target out of the hole and dumped it on the beach. I had to feel around in the sand and ended up putting my thumb through the ring hole. I then had to walk up to use the flashlight on my phone to see if I had Bob’s ring. I took 3 pictures of it from different angles and sent him a text saying, “What do you think????” I gave him a minute or two and called him. He answered on the first ring in amazement his ring had been found. He and his family were out taking in some sights and said he could be there in about 30 minutes. I told him no hurry and I’d wait right there until he arrived. When they arrived and I handed him his ring, he was so happy and grateful to get it back. These reactions make it all worthwhile.
Bob – Thank you for trusting and allowing me to help find your lost treasure. It was truly my pleasure.
Jim
