Sand dunes gold
Sometimes, the best adventures start with a simple message. On June 20th, Ryan and I received a call for help from Stephane Coutu. A beachgoer had experienced every person’s worst nightmare: while playing volleyball at the stunning Sandbanks West Beach, he realized his gold wedding band—which he had been wearing on a necklace—had vanished into the dunes.
Stephane couldn’t make it out, but he knew exactly who to call. Ryan and I were more than happy to step in.
The Mission Begins
The next morning, we arrived at the dunes just after 9:00 AM. The air was crisp, the beach was beautiful, and the anticipation was high. We met the gentleman and his friend, who guided us to the exact spot where the ring had gone missing the day before.
The area was vast, but we weren’t intimidated. Ryan and I geared up, turned on our machines, and began the meticulous process of gridding the sand.
A Record-Breaking Recovery
The recovery was nothing short of cinematic. Ryan started his sweep right where the gentleman had been describing the loss. Within mere seconds, the silence was broken by the sharp, unmistakable mid-tone coming from Ryan’s headphones.
”What’s the VDI?” I called out, my heart racing.
”A solid 55,” he replied.
I turned to the owner, excitement building in my chest. “Is it a chunky gold band?”
“Yes!” he exclaimed.
I immediately powered down my machine to watch the magic happen. Ryan knelt into the sand, and in record time, he pulled the beautiful gold wedding band from the dunes. The look on the owner’s face was pure relief and joy—the exact reason why we do what we do.
A Bonus Act of Kindness
After celebrating the find and snapping a few photos, we started our trek back. Our day of good deeds wasn’t quite over, though. On our way in, we had stumbled upon a lost iPhone 13 in the sand. As we headed out, we made sure to drop it off at the local concession stand, just a few feet from where it was discovered, ensuring it had the best chance of being reunited with its owner.
It was a day of perfect weather, great company, and the thrill of the hunt. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of returning a lost treasure to its rightful owner.
Are you or someone you know missing a piece of jewelry? Don’t lose hope—reach out, and let’s see if we can help you find it!