Dave Blankenship’s Quiet Exit From The Curse of Oak Island: The Real Reason He Stepped Away

When a new season of The Curse of Oak Island premiered earlier this month, viewers once again watched brothers Rick Lagina and Marty Lagina return to Nova Scotia in their ongoing search for long-buried treasure. But for longtime fans of the series, one familiar face was noticeably absent: Dave Blankenship.

Dave Blankenship, along with his late father Dan Blankenship, played a central role during the first six seasons of the History Channel hit. Dan Blankenship, in particular, was a towering figure in the Oak Island story, having spent more than 50 years dedicated to excavating the island and chasing its legendary treasure before his death in 2019. Yet following his father’s passing, Dave quietly stepped away from the show — and his exit was never formally explained on screen.

Over time, however, Dave has offered his own account of why he chose to leave.

A Departure Rooted in Legacy

In a candid interview with The Oak Island Compendium, Dave explained that his decision to exit the series stemmed from what he perceived as a lack of recognition for his father’s decades of work.

“When the movie (TV) crew went from the Restall [family] to the Laginas and left my dad’s 50 years out, I quit,” Dave said. “But they wanted me to retire instead and we did a ‘Drilling Down’ as my last show.”

According to Dave, the omission of Dan Blankenship’s long-standing contributions was deeply personal. He later reiterated that without his father’s perseverance, Oak Island exploration might not have continued at all.

“They left dad’s 50 years out and if it wasn’t for him, David [Tobias] would have quit looking, as dad became the man in the field for David,” Dave added.

An alleged Facebook comment attributed to Dave has also circulated online, reinforcing his stance. In the post, he reportedly wrote that he quit the show the night his father’s legacy was sidelined and claimed that the production would not publicly address his departure.

By the time of his 2023 interview, Dave said he had not spoken with the Lagina brothers in roughly two years, suggesting that the split was not only professional but personal.

A Life-Altering Accident

Long before his television career, Dave Blankenship survived a devastating accident that nearly ended his life.

In 1986, Dave was working at a construction site when a five-ton air compressor was being unloaded from a tractor-trailer using a crane. During the process, part of the crane snapped. The cable struck Dave behind the knees, violently throwing him into the cab of the crane. He then fell through the windshield, and the strap of his construction helmet pinched his carotid artery, triggering a stroke.

Dave was briefly placed in a coma. Doctors reportedly told his parents that he would never walk again and would remain bedridden for life.

“They forgot to tell me,” Dave later said, reflecting on his recovery.

Against overwhelming odds, he regained his ability to walk, speak, and perform daily functions. While nerve damage left his left side permanently numb, the injury did not stop him from continuing to work — or from becoming a familiar presence on Oak Island decades later.

Life After the Show

Since leaving The Curse of Oak Island, Dave has largely retreated from public view. He does not maintain an active social media presence, making updates on his life rare.

However, in his interview with The Oak Island Compendium, Dave revealed that he and his wife, Garnette, still plan to remain connected to the island that shaped so much of their lives.

“[My house] is paid for, I see no reason to sell it,” he said. “I may buy a house on the mainland and rent this one out for the summers.”

While Dave may no longer appear on television, Oak Island remains part of his story — not as a television mystery, but as a place tied to family, perseverance, and a legacy he continues to protect.

As The Curse of Oak Island moves forward into its 13th season, the search for treasure continues. Yet for many longtime viewers, Dave Blankenship’s absence serves as a reminder that the island’s history is shaped not only by discoveries underground, but also by the people who devoted their lives to the hunt long before the cameras arrived.