Has anyone hunted the beaches in Cozumel, Mexico?

[hansenrw]

I will be taking a cruise with a stop at Cozumel, Mexico. We will spend a day most likely at one of the beaches there.

If anyone has been there or knows about the area I would greatly appreciate any input you could offer in regards to metal detecting there. Mostly wondering if it's allowed or if I might run into any issues. I don't want to pack my detector if I'm not able to use it.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

... Mostly wondering if it's allowed or if I might run into any issues.....

Metal detectors are a common site on all the tourist beaches of Mexico . But to answer your question *technically*, there is the true story of the following that happened in the early 1980s:

Fisher Co. used to have a periodical newsletter thing, that went out each month or quarter or whatever . The usual stuff about their machines, their customer's finds, etc.. And in each edition was a Q&A column where the editor would answer questions that readers sent in.

One edition had the following question submitted: Something to the effect of a vacationer was getting ready to vacation to one of the Mexican tourist beaches, and wanted to know "Is detecting allowed in Mexico". Fisher's answer was "no, leave the detectors at home. Not allowed".

In the next edition, several other readers wrote in to take issue with that answer. Saying things like "Since when?". And "where did you get that info?" and "we go there all the time without issue", etc.... Thus Fisher, in defense of their earlier answer, explained where they'd gotten their info: THEY ASKED. When they'd gotten the earlier inquiry, they merely sent a letter (or called or whatever) a travel consulate border lawyer bureaucrat type. And Fisher was merely passing on the answer they'd been given. I mean, doh, who better to ask, than Mexico themselves afterall, eh ?

No doubt whatever bureaucrat they asked was couching the answer in terms of raiding the pyramids, or exporting gold bars back across the border, or shipwreck salvor type stuff, etc.... But for casual fumble fingers beach stuff, no one cares, I guess. And there are metal detector dealers in the major/big cities of Mexico, INCLUDING FISHER DEALERS, doh!

That was a humorous national scale case of "no one cares, until you ask", ha !

 

[Gerry]

I metal detect regularly in Mexico, and know of some others that periodically do, not a problem. However I would check with the cruise line. I have read some cruise lines allow detectors and some don't.
Good luck.

Gerry

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... I have read some cruise lines allow detectors and some don't.....

Ok, I'll bite. For those cruise-lines that say no detectors, have they said WHY ? I mean, what's the difference between that, and any other electronic type device someone might bring aboard ? Eg.: a computer, a video-game player, a tool of someone's trade, etc... ?

I mean, does a detector interfere with the ship's navigation ? Does it offend someone ? Does it take up too much space ? FOR THE LIFE OF ME I can't understand why that is singled out like it's asking if you can bring illegal drugs aboard.

So what's their reason ?

 

[Elton]

I was once told it's the multi stop cruise lines. Some stops do not allow detecting..So the cruise lines just say no detectors to prevent an issue with a passenger while their dry docked under foreign rules.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... Some stops do not allow detecting..So the cruise lines just say no detectors.....

Elton, I KNEW this was the answer. But just wanted someone else to say it.

Ok, then next question: If it were possible to go back in time to whenever someone at the cruise-lines offices invented this rule, what do you think precipitated that ? Ie.: what brought it to their attention, as something to make a rule to address ? Do you think it was because they saw one of their passengers , on a beach, and thought "oh no, that's not allowed here" ? Probably not.

I'll bet you dollars to donuts, that some passengers, way-back-when, probably went and asked "can I bring my metal detector ?". The question gets passed up the chain of command to various pencil pushers, and probably lands on their lawyer's desk. He, in turn, passes the question to various ports-of-call (hey, can't be too safe, eh?). Find some archie there to say no (even though detectors probably a common site on those beaches). And presto, a rule is born.

 

[Elton]

I was thinking that somewhere in the past a passenger may have been detecting and got in a hassle with local authorities.Where detecting was not allowed.
Created a problem for the cruise line. So they just said no detectors allowed on the cruise ship after that..

You may be right in your assessment though.. Anything is possible ....................

 

[KinTN]

Regardless, its all speculation and guesses. And tangential to the OP's question.

Read and know the rules for the cruise you are interested in BEFORE you give them any money. If they have a MD prohibition, send them a polite email telling them why you chose their competitor (wouldn't hurt to show them a photo of your receipt to rub it in either). Sure they want you to be happy but that's just so you'll come back and spend more money with them. If enough of us hit them in the pocketbook, they'll notice. And if you encounter this prohibition, please post it on every board you can find (and make sure the cruise line knows you are doing it). The almighty dollar is a powerful motivator.

And I would for certain know the laws of any foreign country before I went there. It aint all lollipops and unicorns when you get into trouble overseas like it is here where you MAY get a fine at worst. Trying to be a jailhouse lawyer in Mexico will provide a horselaugh for everyone, at best.

 

[jamesinwesttexas]

I had detected a small rundown park in Mexico for about a year, mostly taking trash, and where the city police liked to hang out. One cop wanted to show me someplace where a horse had kicked up a gold coin and a lady cop was real interested in detecting. One day, a man who had been doing some landscaping came over and asked what I was doing and immediately got on his cellphone and 5 minutes later a couple of cops showed up. They told me I should have asked the guy permission first as he was the caretaker. By then I had put away the equipment. Before the cop left he gave me his phone no. and said he had a whole bag of those old coins he would sell me.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I was thinking that somewhere in the past a passenger may have been detecting and got in a hassle with local authorities ....................

That too is possible. Anything's possible.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Regardless, its all speculation and guesses. And tangential to the OP's question.....

Sorry 'bout that

To the OP: Yes, Cozumel is one of the Mexican tourist beaches that you'll see other md'rs there, no issues or problems. Hopefully arrive there right when mother nature is eroding.