beach hunting in spain

[blacksander uk]

just found this site been in spain for two weeks in august thought you might like to hear what i found i had some great rings with stones a couple of heavy pendants most of the stuff i had was all 18k besides these i took off over 75 pieces of silver and 800 in euros about $1030 the machine i use is a whites surfmaster pi pro can`t wait untill next year for some more i have got some photos but can`t send them they are over 120KB

 

[David from Suffolk]

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[blacksander uk]

i wish i knew how to do this not very computer literate

 

[blacksander uk]

hi there here are the photos just the gold don`t bother with the silver spent the euros on beer a great two weeks

 

[cubfan64]

That beautiful gold loot belongs in a treasure chest!!! Super finds!!

 

[syfta]

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[BEACH HUNTER]

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[blacksander uk]

the beaches in spain produce great finds every year they are packed from june to september sometimes i have had 90 euro in a 4 hour session about $115.00 all the stuff comes out of the water mainly waist deep

 

[David from Suffolk]

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[bdahunter]

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[Bobbie]

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[nanwate7]

we were told it was illegal everywhere in Spain..

 

[UK Brian]

You have to have an approved import licence for a metal detector then if you can get one you hit the Act of 1985 and the Royal Decree of 1986.
This means if you found anything old you would not be able to take it out of the country and even modern loses come under the acts so you can have your detector confiscated and spend time in jail as several do each year.

 

[tonyweston]

hi Brian ,
i do a lot of detecting in spain and i have only had 1 policeman move me on in Lorrett , saying that i should go now as the tourists will be coming soon, !! ( the beach was empty )!! But in Ibiza 3 weeks ago the pedalo / deck chair man gave me the cut throat action as a guardia civil jeep pulled up at the beach i was detecting on, he ignored me he and went into the cafe, he said that i was lucky as he was a " velly bad man and would normally kick ass " !!! it does seem to be a grey area detecting abroard ? a lot of the interest i get is more what are you doing ? rather than you cant do that here matey ??!!
I tend to think that a smile being pleasant and making people aware of all the crap that dig , bag and bin helps others be more tolerant towards me and my strange hobby
regards tony weston

 

[Linda in Mass]

It IS illegal without a permit in Spain. I went twice about 5 years ago to Mallorca, working on a dig with an archaeologist there. I didn't have a permit, but had no problem getting my detector in or out. (Neither I nor the archie knew about the laws at the time) I also drove around the island, and used my detector on some beaches and known roman settlement areas, with no problems. I was lucky. A couple of months after I left, I heard about a guy who got caught detecting on the next island over, had his equipment confiscated, and had a lot of trouble...
Beaches are always a better bet, because you're usually just finding lost coins and jewelry, not cultural artifacts. Like many areas and countries, chances are you'll get away with it, but it can be a nightmare if you get caught! I wouldn't go back without a permit...except maybe for the beaches

 

[blacksander uk]

it is not illegal you need an import licence if you stay in the country to live have been doing this for the last 15 years spoken to polica local guardia civil an the beach lifeguards do you go to spain or are you stirring it

 

[Gulf Hunter]

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[Beachcomber]

There were laws enacted in Spain against metal detecting probably about 20 years ago now. They were created because an group from England was taking Metal Detecting Tour Groups to Spain(kind fo like a group from the USA takes to England every year). It was pretty much a virgin area and the beaches were loaded with gold. With all the detectorists the beaches looked like they were being invaded. After a few years of this Spain created the laws banning metal detecting. Back then they were very strict about it. I guess by now the people that were in power back then have retired and the newer younger generation of police aren't going to bother one or two people detecting on a beach. As someone else mentioned it might be another story if you try detecting an inland historic site and try to remove ancient artifacts. Still the law does exist and if you get caught by a Police Officer having a bad day or give an Officer a hard time when he tells you to stop you might be in for a world fo trouble.

HH

Beachcomber

 

[UK Brian]

Spanish Tourist Office 'General Information Sheet'...."the use of metal detectors is not permitted unless an import licence has previously been issued".
British Federation of Independent Detectorists and National Council of Metal Detecting...."the use of metal detectors in Spain cannot be recommended"
I've been detecting there for 36 years and a blind eye was turned even after the new laws were brought in. Unfortunately instead of bringing in money and providing work by staying in hotels or renting accommodation people continued to arrive in old vans and sleep in the back. Then return to the U.K. and publish pictures of the huge about of loot they had recovered which, as in the U.K., should have been handed to the local Police because otherwise its "stealing by finding". What you do hand in is rarely claimed and you have a chit so you can sell the item legally.
Its fine risking getting caught (most still don't get prosecuted though if you pick a beach where the rather low paid beach cleaners subsidise their pay with the coins they recover from the beach cleaning machines they will insist that the police do something). But you can't suggest to people from other countries that its safe and legal when its not.

 

[alun]

i go to spain a lot + i have been approached twice by the guardia civil + told that i needed a licence .i tried to get one + was turned down for no reason,i still go there [came back from majorca today]10 day trip if i see the police i try to keep a low profile alun wales