STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When Louis DeFeo learned that a recent eighth-grade graduate, Peter, lost his chain and crucifix in the ocean at Rockaway Beach, he drove to Queens on Friday night to help search for it.

DeFeo of Annadale is part of three local metal detectors and treasure hunter groups, who use metal detectors, magnet fishing, prospecting, scrapping, scuba diving to enjoy history and nature. They also enjoy hunting for and finding treasures.

Aside from looking for treasures, DeFeo says the group helps recover lost items.

The other night a young gentleman was either boogie boarding or surfing. His chain came off that he got three weeks ago, so his family and their friends Googled how to get in touch with someone who can recover it and they contacted my friend Merrill [Kazanjian], who asked us all in our little group to come out there, DeFeo said.

DeFeo and Kazanjian, who lives on Long Island, were the only ones available to go search for the missing chain and crucifix. After arriving around 10 p.m. Friday night, DeFeo was able to find the chain and crucifix in the water within five minutes of meeting the family and seeing the area.

They [the family] were totally ecstatic, DeFeo said. The father actually said he went there twice during low-tide -- he didnt have a metal detector -- and he couldnt find it.

When DeFeo used his metal detector, he said it was beeping really loud in the range of gold.

It was pretty heavy, he explained. It came up and I couldnt believe it. I did it [used a metal detector] in the surrounding area on the sand and then I started walking in the water. [It was] a little bit above my ankles, but the waves were hitting my legs. Its very rough in the Rockaways and it was there. The sand was very packed so it didnt go too far deep luckily, and there wasnt a lot of trash, so that helped too.

You can watch a video of the recovery in DeFeos video below.

People interested in learning more about this activity can get involved in three local clubs that DeFeo belongs to: Staten Island History Hunters Metal Detecting Club, as well as New Jersey-based Deep Search Metal Detecting Club and East Coast Research & Discovery Association.

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Good news: Staten Island man helps recover lost chain in ocean - SILive.com