Metal Detecting Group

Since Rod Toms retired to Spain he has headed up this extremely popular group. He provides help and tuition to people who would like to try out this unusual and sometimes very profitable hobby.

This group expanded so fast they now have a north and south divide. South headed up by Rod Toms and the north headed up by Robin Bonathan. The group mainly detects the beaches up and down the south Costa Blanca and Costa Calida coast. They also have permission to search some historic sites via their partnership with San Pedro museum.

If you wish to know more about this group, Torrevieja and south or Guardamar and above then email Rod on r.toms@btinternet.com

There is also a aqua division within the Group who use specialist underwater metal detectors. If you wish to know more about this group then email Rod on r.toms@btinternet.com

What is metal detecting?

Adrian scrutinising the hole he has dug
Adrian scrutinising the hole he has dug

It is simply finding metal items such as coins, rings, badges etc. buried in the first few inches of earth. The hobby takes you away from your computer into the fresh air, where with the use of other advanced electronic wizardry, (the metal detector) you can have gentle exercise, enjoy nature and see what your ancestors left behind for you to find. Once at home you can share the information about your finds with others on the Internet and learn from fellow enthusiasts about their most recent discoveries. Searching for treasure is something that children grew up with after reading books about pirates. This fantasy can now become a reality as the person can buy a metal detector and start looking for jewellery or old coins that have been buried in the ground. Some people think that reading the manual will make the individual an expert in looking for these objects. The truth is it takes time to master the skill and getting some help from the experts is a good start. Information regarding metal detection is available in books, magazines and on the Internet. The person should study the types of devices available or simply inquire about the types of model.

Buying a metal detector guide lines

Please, please, please, remember £25 will not buy a metal detector it will buy you a non functional toy…If you are serious about metal detecting be prepared to pay £250.00 minimum for a new detector or at least £150.00 for a second hand detector. This will get you started in the right direction

Training

Training 1
Training a lady newcomer, where we rope off a section of beach and plant coins and jewellery for her to find.

Training is possible if it is booked in advance. They give 2 free tuition days to see if this is the hobby for you where they will loan out a detector. After that, you will need to decide on whether it’s the hobby for you.There is an investment of equipment required if you do go ahead and join the group. Apart from discovering the history beneath your feet, you will have exercise.

Dry land detecting

Sometimes they are able to get permission to metal detect the Campo. Different retrieving techniques are used and it’s a lot harder digging the soil than the sand on the beach.

Sea metal detecting

Shallow water hunting is one of the most rewarding ways to metal detect. Remember that when bathers sit on the beach and lather themselves with sun screen they usually jump into the water to cool down. Once in the water their fingers shrink and the rings just slide off their pre-lubricated fingers. With this in mind we know that there is more jewellery in the water than on the dry beach. Fortunately, for water hunters there is also less trash to dig in the water. Depending on location and time of the year shallow water hunters may need just a bathing suit or waders, a wet suit or even a dry suit for thermal protection. In addition, you will also need a metal detector that is completely waterproof and a strong long handle scoop.

Sea Metal Detecting
Sea Metal Detecting

For the purpose of this text we will consider shallow water hunting to encompass hunting from the high water mark down to approximately waste deep. Shallow Water Detecting Technique Detecting in shallow water is very similar to beach hunting. Since the surf may be rolling over your feet, once a target is located you should mark the spot. The easiest way to do this is to simply plant one foot just behind the target. That foot never moves until the target is recovered. Now place the scoop in front of your planted foot and take a deep scoop of sand. Pull the scoop out of the hole and rest it off to the side of the hole. Do not dump the sand or waste time sifting all the sand out until you re-check the hole. If the target is still in the hole the scoop can be dumped and another scoop taken. If after 2 or 3 scoops the target is still not recovered try changing the direction of each dig by 90 degrees. Once you confirm with the metal detector that the target is no longer in the hole than you know it’s in the scoop. Now all you have to do is strain the sand. Fortunately, simply submerging the scoop is often enough to cause sand to strain through exposing the target.

Historic Sites

Meeting in Santa Polo
Meeting in Santa Polo

The ADAPT metal detecting group is really privileged to be in partnership with the San Pedro Del Pinatar museum. The museum have allowed group to metal detect on certain historic sites within the san Pedro area. This is a new project for group and they have initialy been field walking the different sites. The museum has also given them information on how to identify roman pottery and glass ware on the walkabouts. So far, not much has been found, but they have only scraped the surface and they are looking forward to finding their first roman treasure. These sites will soon be open to the rest of the group members (subject to strict guidelines and supervision)

The environment

Equipment This group helps to clear metal rubbish that is discarded on the beach and in the sea. You would be so surprised what they find. There are so many sharp objects that could hurt someone if they step on them. This group also provides a Free Search & Recovery Service. If  you have lost a metal item such as a purse, jewellery, keys, etc, they can search for them for you,(subject to conditions) Contact: r.toms@btinternet.com

Recent News

Please address all queries regarding our Metal Detecting activities to Rod Toms at: r.toms@btinternet.com

49 Comments

  2. Hi,
    I have a holiday booked in Malaga next year and would like to do some shallow water detecting. I don’t want to detect illegally so I would be very grateful for your advice.
    Many thanks
    Paul

    Reply

  3. Hello, I’m very interested in starting metal detecting. I currently live in El Puerto de Santa María in Cadiz. I have read on some websites that metal detecting in Andalucía is completely prohibited, is this correct? Or is it posible to obtain a permit somehow? Thank you in advance.

    Reply

  8. Hi, I have a holiday villa in Puerto de Mazarron (Murcia region) and would like to bring over a detector for shallow water. Can you advise if this is okay or do I need a permit and if so where do I get one and how long does it take?
    Thanks

    Reply

  9. I live in the Cadiz province and have authorization to detect in Cadiz and Malaga provinces. Are there any clubs in the Cadiz area?
    Thank you!!

    Reply

  11. Ill be visiting Barcelona in August and would like to do some detecting on the beaches but I’m worried about the laws and bringing my detector. Is there a club or detecting store there with someone I can talk to and possibly rent a beach detector? How do inget a permit.

    Reply

  12. Hi there, I’m also very interested in trying metal detecting in the region of Valencia. Could I please also get some information on that? Thank you

    Reply

  13. I am interested to learn how to get a permit here in Spain and if there is a group in my area please

    Reply

  14. Hi.
    I Just moved to Spain. I like to get in touch with your gruop if posible, and i Wonder about regulation detecting the beach, how i can get a permite. I live near allicante. Best regards Alex.

    Reply

  17. Hi, I would like to do some metal detecting in Valencia area but can’t find any info regards where I should apply for the licence. Can you help please?

    Reply

  18. Hi. I live in Granada. Having looked on line it seems metal detecting isn’t allowed anywhere in Andalusia, is this true?

    Reply

  19. A friend of mine is bring two metal detectors to Spain from the United States and asked me to look into the legality of first importing them into the country and secondly if he needed a licence to go metal detecting.
    When I searched on Google there was very little on detecting in Spain and what I could find was contradictory. I came across the ADAPT Metal Detecting Group and decided to send Rod Toms an email to see if he could help clarify the rules.
    Rod replied back to me almost instantly answering all the questions I had about metal detecting in the Valencian region of Spain and who I have to get in touch with for permission. Without Rods help I would probably be still looking.
    Thanks so much Rod I really appreciate your help.
    Kind regards,
    Mark,

    Reply

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