Lost Ring Gulf Shores, AL – FOUND!!!

Yesterday, I had already been in the water in Gulf Shores for hours and I was worn out. I got into some dry clothes in the parking lot and started to head back towards my wife in Orange Beach when I looked at my phone. When I saw that I had several missed calls from the same Arkansas number, I knew someone needed help. Before I left the parking lot I listened to one of the voice mails and then called back Whitney who was very nice and very concerned. She was down from Arkansas with her husband Doug and they had recently celebrated their 10th anniversary. In fact, he had just given her a beautiful diamond wrap ring to go around her main ring as a gift and they had just had it soldered on. So you can imagine her dismay when she was messing with a boogie board on the second sandbar and the rope quickly snatched her ring off sending it flying into the gulf. I ended up only being a few miles away and told them that I would come immediately. When I got there, the tide was going out and they were really concerned because the sandbar was obviously moving. They only had hours until that sand swallowed up her heavy ring and it had already been three since she lost it. Luckily Doug had acted quickly when he saw Whitney panicked in the Gulf and called out for her not to move. He came out and got a great frame of reference off a building and even threw out a few quarters as markers. When I got set I quickly found the quarters but unfortunately the ring was nowhere to be found. I started to see everyone get really down as I made lap after lap but I tried to keep them positive and told them with moving sand and waves, sometimes you just have to put your time and effort in. I had about one or two laps left until I knew Whitney would know we were out of space and I could see it in her eyes that they were resigned that they were going to lose her precious ring. That’s when I heard that beautiful sound in my ears. I looked up and saw that it was close to as far out as they thought but a bit west. I couldn’t help but get my hopes up as I realized this could be it. I very gently placed my scoop so I wouldn’t scratch it and as soon as I saw the flash of a diamond I reached down in the scoop and grabbed it letting the sand rush off in the water. I held it up with a big smile and Doug came running first. He held it out to Whitney and I got to watch tears of joy show just how special it was to them. I’m so glad I could fix the first day of this trip Doug and Whitney and I wish you many more happy decades together.




Alex and Cali contacted me asking if I could find Alex wedding ring that he lost in the water at Pensacola Beach. They were afraid of losing it and wanted me to come that night, I said I couldn’t come that night but would meet them at first light the next morning. Both Alex and Cali are Internet Tech Remote workers who do their work where ever they and their computer are. They had recently moved to Pensacola from San Diego. Alex pointed out about where he lost his ring and I started a search. It turned out to be a fairly easy search. After about 4 passes and digging several pop tops and a nickel I found his ring. They were both extremely grateful and I could tell that their worry was relieved. They are really nice people and I am glad I could help. 
Chad and Renee are the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Friendly, outgoing, all around warm folks vacationing at the beach. And while at the beach that day, became local celebrates. Chad accidentally lost his wedding ring, in the Gulf of Mexico, where in sank in the sandy bottom, out of sight. Renee called me for assistance and I told her I could probably help. I got to the beach about 11:00 and started searching, there went lots of people enjoying the beach. I set out flags on the beach to help navigating in the water with Chad’s assistance, then proceeded to search in grid fashion. The setting out flags got everyone’s attention nearby. As I kept checking my longitude I noticed folks talking with Chad and Renee. The search took about two and a half hours and my activity apparently was a source of curiosity and perhaps entertainment for everyone near. There was almost no targets in the water so the maybe two time I set my scoop lots of folks watched. So, when I finally located Chad’s ring, the signal was unmistakable and I knew. I set the scoop extra deep so as not to scrap the ring, looked at Chad and I think he knew also. Don’t know if it was my smile but he was getting out of his chair as I was pulling the scoop from the water. I took the ring from the scoop and lifted in so he could see it was indeed found. People on the beach clapped and cheered and bestowed them with their well wishes. It made my day, found his ring, no more worries, vacation back on!

