The Underwater Legend: Recovering Treasures, Bodies, & River's Best Stories | Guest Matt Spruitenberg
Dive deep with us into the murky, treasure-filled, and sometimes dangerous waters of the American River and Lake Natoma! This week on Play Hard and Love Big Radio, we sit down with Matt Spruitenberg, the local legend behind American River Lost and Found. Matt shares his incredible story, from moving to the area in '07 and combining his love for scuba diving and treasure hunting into a full-time passion for service. Beyond the Surface: Hear jaw-dropping tales of finding everything from priceless wedding rings and $28,000 prosthetic legs to hundreds of discarded vapes and shopping carts—all while cleaning up the waterways. Search and Rescue: Matt opens up about his work with search and rescue, including the emotional intensity of locating lost individuals and the critical moments saving lives at the treacherous San Juan rapids. He shares a vital safety tip that's also a life metaphor: Don't swim upstream. The World Below: Get Matt's unique underwater perspective on Lake Natoma—the surprising size of the fish (like those "creepy" giant carp), the beautiful but threatened wildlife (Morgansers and beavers), and why it's "better below water." Matt's commitment to our community is truly inspiring, driven by a love for service and the deep fulfillment of reuniting people with their most treasured possessions.

