By Billy Oatey
Perhaps one of the most popular places for metal detecting is at the beach. This is the first location that comes to mind for many hobbyists and many people use it as their main hunting location. The beach is actually a good location when treasure hunting with children because: holes are usually very easy to fill, the ground is relatively free of obstructions, and if the kids get tired of searching for coins they can always play in the water. Add that beaches often hide a large number of lost items, many of these may look like junk to adults but are marvelous treasure to children, and it is obvious that beaches are a great place for kids with metal detectors.
Beaches, and especially larger beaches, will often have a number of people with metal detectors working on them every day. This does not mean that there are no treasures left to find. One of the great things about metal detecting as a hobby is that no one ever seems to find every last bit of lost or buried material. A simple difference in the brand, model, settings, or even the speed that the search coil is swung can cause one hobbyist to walk right past something quite valuable while another will literally feel like they have stumbled over it. It is very common to hear treasure hunters say that they followed behind someone using a very expensive metal detector and still found treasures. The potential for a find is always there and just like the kids who catch large fish on their toy rods, kids can easily find valuables with their detectors.
If beach hunting with your kids is your goal, it is wise to look for a detector that has a waterproof search coil because it gives you the ability to search right to the water's edge, or even into very shallow water. Most modern metal detectors come with waterproof coils, but it is better to carefully read the manufacturer's description rather than be surprised. Of course, a waterproof search coil does not mean the entire metal detector is waterproof. Truly waterproof metal detectors can be used fully submerged and are often purchased by scuba divers when searching wreck sites. These machines typically cost considerably more because it is expensive to produce the waterproof cases and because there is a much lower demand for this type of detector. A basic waterproof search coil, however, will suffice for most individuals who simply want to hunt along the water's edge or in a few inches to a foot or so of water. Like any other electronic device a metal detector's electrically powered components may be damaged if they get wet. So whenever working near water, it is best to take extra precautions to keep the electronics dry.
There are two types of beaches that most people think of: those on the ocean and those on lakes. Ocean beaches have high and low tides and folks who are unfamiliar with searching on a seashore beach will need to spend a little time learning when the tides are high and low in the area they intend to search. A low tide can expose much more area where items may have been lost. Beaches on lakes do not offer this high-low water line or are so minimally affected that it isn't noticeable, and so searching these freshwater shores is much more straightforward since the water level will vary little from day to night but may fluctuate widely with the season.
Another consideration is that droughts in many cases can cause water levels to drop in inland lakes. This provides a much larger area that can be worked with metal detectors. Many times this exposes opportunities for treasure hunting when no opportunities existed before. All lakes have something on the bottom to share, but man-made lakes can be especially interesting since these were often created at the expense of farmsteads, homes, and sometimes entire towns. It is not uncommon to read about some of these man-made (and occasionally natural,) lakes that have dried up due to drought and exposed old buildings and even entire small towns and villages. These types of opportunities can be a lot of fun for kids, but they need to be carefully supervised in such situations to prevent injuries.
Safety is always a concern and children need to be taught caution when digging since occasionally there may be broken glass or sharp pieces of metal in the area. This is a standard beach precaution, but it is a bit more important when the kids are actively seeking buried objects and have no way of knowing what those objects are before digging. Treasure hunting is safe when practiced properly, and being careful when digging is a basic precaution when hunting on a beach, park, or abandoned homestead.
When working beaches and waterfront areas, it is important to pay attention to where people move from and to. Is there a path that people generally take from the beach to restrooms, a concession stand, or the parking lot? These types of paths often provide excellent places for treasure hunting since these are the places where people are, and it is people who lose the very small treasures that we often seek to follow. Also consider hunting in the parking lots themselves, and at smaller rural boat launches, consider working down the sides of the road near the access point. Occasionally, there may be so many people wanting to use the site that some may be forced to park their vehicles on the edges of the road and walk up to the access.
Remember, treasure is found where people regularly are and where they have been. Sometimes that latter category is hard to figure out, but you can bet that wherever there is water and an easy way to it people will have been there.
A kids metal detector is a great beach toy as long as you remember to keep it dry and use it safely. Beaches offer excellent opportunities for treasure hunting and even if it appears that the beach has many people with metal detectors working on it, there will still be opportunities for kids and adults to find coins, jewelry, and other small items.
Billy Oatey invites you to visit his blog kids metal detectors for even more tips for young treasure hunters. http://discovermetaldetecting.com
Perhaps one of the most popular places for metal detecting is at the beach. This is the first location that comes to mind for many hobbyists and many people use it as their main hunting location. The beach is actually a good location when treasure hunting with children because: holes are usually very easy to fill, the ground is relatively free of obstructions, and if the kids get tired of searching for coins they can always play in the water. Add that beaches often hide a large number of lost items, many of these may look like junk to adults but are marvelous treasure to children, and it is obvious that beaches are a great place for kids with metal detectors.
Beaches, and especially larger beaches, will often have a number of people with metal detectors working on them every day. This does not mean that there are no treasures left to find. One of the great things about metal detecting as a hobby is that no one ever seems to find every last bit of lost or buried material. A simple difference in the brand, model, settings, or even the speed that the search coil is swung can cause one hobbyist to walk right past something quite valuable while another will literally feel like they have stumbled over it. It is very common to hear treasure hunters say that they followed behind someone using a very expensive metal detector and still found treasures. The potential for a find is always there and just like the kids who catch large fish on their toy rods, kids can easily find valuables with their detectors.
If beach hunting with your kids is your goal, it is wise to look for a detector that has a waterproof search coil because it gives you the ability to search right to the water's edge, or even into very shallow water. Most modern metal detectors come with waterproof coils, but it is better to carefully read the manufacturer's description rather than be surprised. Of course, a waterproof search coil does not mean the entire metal detector is waterproof. Truly waterproof metal detectors can be used fully submerged and are often purchased by scuba divers when searching wreck sites. These machines typically cost considerably more because it is expensive to produce the waterproof cases and because there is a much lower demand for this type of detector. A basic waterproof search coil, however, will suffice for most individuals who simply want to hunt along the water's edge or in a few inches to a foot or so of water. Like any other electronic device a metal detector's electrically powered components may be damaged if they get wet. So whenever working near water, it is best to take extra precautions to keep the electronics dry.
There are two types of beaches that most people think of: those on the ocean and those on lakes. Ocean beaches have high and low tides and folks who are unfamiliar with searching on a seashore beach will need to spend a little time learning when the tides are high and low in the area they intend to search. A low tide can expose much more area where items may have been lost. Beaches on lakes do not offer this high-low water line or are so minimally affected that it isn't noticeable, and so searching these freshwater shores is much more straightforward since the water level will vary little from day to night but may fluctuate widely with the season.
Another consideration is that droughts in many cases can cause water levels to drop in inland lakes. This provides a much larger area that can be worked with metal detectors. Many times this exposes opportunities for treasure hunting when no opportunities existed before. All lakes have something on the bottom to share, but man-made lakes can be especially interesting since these were often created at the expense of farmsteads, homes, and sometimes entire towns. It is not uncommon to read about some of these man-made (and occasionally natural,) lakes that have dried up due to drought and exposed old buildings and even entire small towns and villages. These types of opportunities can be a lot of fun for kids, but they need to be carefully supervised in such situations to prevent injuries.
Safety is always a concern and children need to be taught caution when digging since occasionally there may be broken glass or sharp pieces of metal in the area. This is a standard beach precaution, but it is a bit more important when the kids are actively seeking buried objects and have no way of knowing what those objects are before digging. Treasure hunting is safe when practiced properly, and being careful when digging is a basic precaution when hunting on a beach, park, or abandoned homestead.
When working beaches and waterfront areas, it is important to pay attention to where people move from and to. Is there a path that people generally take from the beach to restrooms, a concession stand, or the parking lot? These types of paths often provide excellent places for treasure hunting since these are the places where people are, and it is people who lose the very small treasures that we often seek to follow. Also consider hunting in the parking lots themselves, and at smaller rural boat launches, consider working down the sides of the road near the access point. Occasionally, there may be so many people wanting to use the site that some may be forced to park their vehicles on the edges of the road and walk up to the access.
Remember, treasure is found where people regularly are and where they have been. Sometimes that latter category is hard to figure out, but you can bet that wherever there is water and an easy way to it people will have been there.
A kids metal detector is a great beach toy as long as you remember to keep it dry and use it safely. Beaches offer excellent opportunities for treasure hunting and even if it appears that the beach has many people with metal detectors working on it, there will still be opportunities for kids and adults to find coins, jewelry, and other small items.
Billy Oatey invites you to visit his blog kids metal detectors for even more tips for young treasure hunters. http://discovermetaldetecting.com
Post a Comment