planning trip to virginia beach any tips on detecting there

[mathews28]

hi new to forum. we are planning vacation this summer to virginia beach anyone have any tips on best places to detect there. thanks

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

My formula is to detect at night, two hours before low tide until 2 hours after low tide. I hit the wet sand and shallow water only, never the dry sand. I usually work the areas between about 4th st. to about 25th with the most time spent between about 9th and 18th or so. That has worked very well for me. I don't like hunting during the day in the summer because there are too many people and I figure the beach belongs to them during the day and to me at night. It's also a lot more pleasant out there at night, heat and humidity wise. I've found a lot of nice jewelry and money over the last few summers sticking to this formula.

 

[Mark Sowder]

n/t

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

it is hard to do during the day and almost impossible to do during the dark hours.....................

the tourist can have the dry sand and the waves belong to me.

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

mostly hunt the dry sand early am and late pm when all the tourist have cleared out

damp sand and water...........24/7's

when is your expected e t a?

 

[mathews28]

planning to arrive july 16th which brings up another issue. we are in process of booking hotel on the beach, any recommendations or ones to stay away from.

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

a brand new hilton on 31st.............big one

some nice ones one and two blocks off the beach front as well

the 16th is a really really good time.............people will be shoulder to shoulder then

make sure u have a sturdy scoop..........

what detectors u bringing?

just come on down, i will be dragging big scoop with two handles and have yellow rake handle shaft............look in the waves.

lots of good places to eat................let me know what u like and i will point u in those directions.

 

[David from Suffolk]

Max and Mike both are giving you good tips.I like to hunt same as both of them but I am like Mike and like night hunting but I hunt days as well from 42st south to about 5th st. Look fwd to meeting you.

 

[Sanddigger]

n/t

 

[Sanddigger]

n/t

 

[mathews28]

well i have an explorer ll but realy considering getting an excalibur. Last year we went to myrtle beach, my first time ever detecting beaches. the whole time i was worried about dropping my $1300 setup in the water. needless to say i stayed in the dry sand mostly and still had some great jewelry finds. that scoop looks like a monster are they much better than just a regular hand digger. you will have to excuse my ignorance of beach detecting and the tools you use, i am from indiana and myrtle beach was the first time i have seen the ocean let alone detect the beaches.

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

your belt or something like that and add some rtv to your lower shaft so water will not shoot up it and get into the control box

most of the great loot is very damp to wet

hand scoop is ok, but u will be doing alot of digging .............lot of targets in july..........but i have extra scoop if u need to borrow one..........

i was standing backwards in the waves about three weeks after i got my expII without the string and a wave came along and kinda grabbed the coil and just slid it down my arm and into the shallow surf. i grabbed it, but not fast enough............i sent it in for testing and drying and i has not failed since..........i have waterproofed it now.