Beach and Water / Scuba Dive Detecting Forum

I've only been in the water a couple times and scooping in the water with waves and current is a challenge... This is what I have been doing.
Pinpoint the target and set the coil centered on top of the target and placing my left foot next to the coil. (detector in right hand) Place the scoop inside my left heel and scooping.....If it's a shallow target my success is ok... Deeper targets I tend to dig a crater.....

What are your techniques and tips ?????

What about ghost targets?? I had to give up on some, suspecting beavertails or small sinkers that fell thru my scoop... I get a large hole and keep scooping and never get it....

I'm definitely going to weld a lower grab handle on the scoop.

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Detecting is the study of Humans interaction with topography, the untrustworthyness of pockets, and metals desire to return to the earth from whence it came.

I know there might be gold in those waves but I'll leave it for you. I tried it,don't like it and will pass. I'm not talking about where the waves come up on shore but in the waves themselves, especially if there's a slope. Now if I had a backhoe it might be a different story.

borntofli , if you take your detector that you are holding in your right hand tie a 1/4 "rope to it about 3 'long and tie the other end to your rist , you would have two hand to work with your scoop. Make it a lot easier with two hands,when your done pick the rope up and go hunting again.

To dig successfully in the waves, you have to be quick. I time the waves and dig when the wave passes over. But you have to be quick as the next wave is coming already. You also need the biggest scoop you can find. A lower grab handle is a must when digging in the waves.

The scoop I use is all aluminum with a stainless steel lip and has just the right size holes to keep the smaller targets in but still allows for sand and mud to siphon out. I can dig down a foot with each scoop. I let the next wave wash out the sand in the scoop if I get the target.

The problem with good deeper targets is not that they are washed away. It is the sand that gets dumped back into the hole when the next wave comes. The lighter targets are usually aluminum pull tabs and they are moved pretty easily with the waves. If the target moves, you can bet it usually is not a good find.

Dig a scoop - check hole before sifting sand from scoop - if signal still in hole - dump scoop and get second scoop. When signals not in hole - check bottom where you're sifting sand from scoop for small/light targets - if no target - then it should be in scoop. Have to scoop faster/deeper than sand is being washed back into the hole - and stay on top of your dig - while gettin' slammed by waves and current - no small feat!! Sometimes water's just too rough - but....sometimes that's the best time to be huntin'!! Lotta work....but can be a lotta reward too!! gl and hh

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Spectra V3i
BHID 300

I use the ole locate the target and move it to the top of my coil, put my foot at the back of the coil, then my scoop in front of my foot and scoop. How big of a scoop do you have? Might be to small. Also concentrate on the tone...... after awhile you can tell exactly where it is just by moving your coil. I find myself timing the wave as it goes out you have a little more depth to dig. Bet you have an angled scoop like an RTG? Im using a 90 degree one now and thou i tend to have to lean into the water a bit more...... those targets like pennies and pull tabs dont float out the front of the scoop..... because they do and are a real pain. Now if you are talking in the OAT MEAL at tide level its just timing not to loose those suckers some times.

Dew

btf,

if i don't retreive the target on the first try, i rotate around the hole 90 degrees and try again. i do this on each additional try because it makes the scoop point drag up the opposite side of the excavation alot of times the target is in the side of the hole.

as far as current or the waves, try to stand sideways to them as they approach, there is less of your body exposed to the energy, but it really comes down to timing and tuffing it out!!!!

steve :-)

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Persaverance is the only true talent!

kaptainkosmic(mich)

I never dump a scoop without checking it first--even if it tells me there is a target in the sand

Oc Maryland, 45 minutes before Lowtide..CZ20 Hunter

Damn, thats nice calm water...... That would make life easy.......

Water is the calmest about a hour before lowtide...somedays good, some bad