West Beach, beside the Santa Barbara Pier · August 2026
Engagement Ring Recovered at West Beach, Santa Barbara
Irina was on holiday from Switzerland and had already left Santa Barbara by the time I found her ring. I insured it and mailed it — she had it back two days later.
A late Saturday night phone call
The call came in late on a Saturday night from a Swiss number. Irina had been on holiday in Santa Barbara and had lost her white gold engagement ring near the Santa Barbara Pier. She thought it had happened on the north side of the pier, an area that is usually not very crowded.
A street fair, and a lucky break
I went out with my wife on Sunday afternoon. The pier and Cabrillo Boulevard were packed because a street fair was running at Chase Palm Park. That could have been a problem, but the north side of the pier — exactly where Irina thought she'd lost it — was still quiet enough to work properly.
Gridding parallel to the pier
I started a grid running parallel to the pier. Almost immediately I began finding coins, and lots of them. That is a very encouraging sign: it means the area has not been detected in a long time, so anything recently lost is probably still sitting there. On my second pass the Manticore gave a nice low hit, and the ring came up in my scoop.
Getting it home
I sent Irina a photo and she confirmed it was hers. She had already left the area and was down in Newport Beach, so I got her address, insured the ring and mailed it. Two days later it was back on her hand.
Lost something similar? Call or text me on 805-290-5009. I cover all of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, seven days a week. A $75 call-out fee covers my travel; if I find it, you set the reward.
Ring recovery in Santa Barbara · More about West Beach & the Santa Barbara Pier