Local man specializes in finding lost items underwater

By: Jeff Butera

Chris Seeman’s regular job is fairly normal, he cleans the bottom of boats.

But the St. Petersburg man’s side job is far more fascinating: He finds lost items on the bottom of the ocean.

“It’s always great to find something that’s been lost for so long,” Seeman said.

Usually, it’s jewelry that accidentally fell in the water. If Seeman is contacted and can be directed to where the item was lost, he will use his equipment to dive the area.

If he finds it, he’ll get paid, usually a percentage of the value of the item found. If he doesn’t, there’s no charge.

A few years ago, Wendy Wagner lost a ring in the water near Clearwater Beach. The ring held special meaning, because her late husband had given it to her for their 10th anniversary.

Wagner and her friends searched the water but couldn’t find it. She was convinced the ring was gone forever.

One year later, Seeman heard about her plight. She showed him where the ring was lost and he dove in. A few minutes later, he came back up with the ring.

“He called me over and I’m like ‘Now what?’ And he says ‘I’ve got it.’ And I said ‘No, you don’t.’ And he did,” Wagner remembers. “I have not taken it off since.”

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