Oldguy said:
... Check the regulations for each country before you go. ....
Who do you recommend to check with ? Other hobbyists for where they've had "no problems"? Or to check with the powers-that-be in those countries themselves ?
There was a humorous story in the very early 1980s, back when Fisher Co. had a periodical newsletter mailer thing. And each edition had a letter-to-the-editor type column. Where you could ask Fisher questions about metal detecting topics.
In one of those editions, someone had written in saying they were about to vacation to Mexico, so they wanted to know what the laws were there, regarding detecting (like at their tourist beach destination). Fisher's answer was to "leave the detector at home, it's illegal, etc...".
In the following editions, other readers had written in to take exception to this answer. Saying things like "Since when?" and "where did you get that information?" and "We go there all the time with no problem ", etc.... So Fisher, in defense/explanation of their earlier answer, gave the following reply: When they had fielded the earlier inquiry, they had merely forwarded it on to border bureaucrat lawyer travel consulate or some such persons. And they were merely reporting the answer they got back. I mean, heck WHO BETTER TO ASK THAN MEXICO THEMSELVES afterall, *right* ?
No doubt whomever got this question, had answered it in terms of shipwreck salvor laws, raiding the pyramids, exporting gold bars back across the border, etc.... Yet .... metal detectors are a common site on Mexican tourist beaches. And there are metal detector dealers in major cities down there (including Fisher dealers, doh!).
Hence it's not always a good idea to ask regulatory agencies, police, rangers, lawyers, etc... Sometimes the real skinny (ie.: who actually cares, what is really happening), is to ask other hobbyists. Or simply look it up for yourself. If you see nothing there that says "no metal detectors allowed", the presto, it's not prohibited.
Now I am black and blue. Can't win.
