A Florida couple’s road trip turned into a dazzling dream come true when they discovered a 3.36-carat white diamond at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park while wet sifting just their third bucket of soil.
Scott and Jennifer Freitas of New Port Richey made the remarkable find on July 1 during a long-anticipated visit to the only diamond-producing site in the world where the public can search and keep what they discover.
The couple, avid rockhounds who frequently hunt for rubies, sapphires and smoky quartz, had added the Murfreesboro, AR, park to their travel bucket list after hearing about it on the nationally syndicated Bobby Bones Show.
Jennifer, who holds a geology degree, was especially excited to visit. The couple arrived at the 37 1/2-acre search field at 8:30 am, eager to try their luck. After collecting a few buckets of soil at a depth of only 6 to 8 inches, they began the task of wet sifting — a popular and highly effective method where visitors wash dirt away in water troughs and sort through the remaining gravel for gems.
“This isn’t like mining for rubies; we may end up walking away empty-handed,” Jennifer remarked early on. But on their third bucket, the couple’s fortunes changed.
Scott pulled a screen from the water and immediately spotted a sparkling stone.
“Hey, I think I have one!” he called out.
“Oh yeah, right,” Jennifer joked in reply.
But upon closer inspection, even she was stunned.
They took their find to the park’s identification center, where staff confirmed it was indeed a 3.36-carat white diamond — crystal clear at the center with off-white edges, and roughly the size of a blueberry.
“I was stunned when I saw the pictures of the diamond,” said Park Superintendent Caleb Howell. “The shape, clarity, color and size made it a beautifully natural gemstone. It was a great reminder of the awesomeness of Crater of Diamonds State Park.”
The Freitas named the gem the "Dash Diamond," in honor of their beloved dog. It’s the second-largest diamond registered at the park so far in 2025. This year's top find remains the 3.81-carat “Duke Diamond,” also named after a canine companion.
The park has seen a total of 332 diamonds registered this year. Since diamonds were first discovered at the site in 1906, more than 75,000 have been unearthed — making it a glittering destination for gem lovers around the world.
Credits: Photos courtesy of Crater of Diamonds State Park.