Snorkeling and fanning for targets

[Infiniumexplorer Excalibur]

I'm thinking of snorkelling to fan for targets, without the detector.

What should I wear/use? How do others do this? I mean, should I wear flippers, or just go in there with reef shoes or, not worry about snorkels at all and just have the goggles on?

I would like to hear from others whom have already approached this.

 

[southernstyle]

I have not tried this approach before because I am fortunate enough to own a underwater detector. I did however just get back from Jamaica and was talking to some of the kids there and asking them if they find rings at the beach ever or if they see many people detecting. They use mask and snorkel and cut a old flipper in half, put there hand inside and use it as a fan. They work the waters edge right where the sand drops off. They do find stuff, but it would be a lot of searching I would think, but if you find a couple of rings to help pay for a Excal. I am not sure where you are or how busy your beach is but I will go out in the afternoons a lot of times after the cruise shippers have left I will snorkel around and just look for stuff dropped that day.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[Diggler]

The most prolific water hunter that I know of makes the great majority of his finds by fanning. I think he uses his fins to fan with and then looks for shiny stuff. The guy is unreal. But he is in Hawaii. And I don't see the beach hunters there coming close to his finds. Did I say the guy was unreal!

 

[John(Tx)]

n/t

 

[OldBeechnut]

I'm working on a video now {along with 10 other projects} that I took in May of a hunter that hunts like that in Miami/South Beach ..Chuck...He was ring daddy last year with about 60+Gold rings. Chuck is a great guy and had several great tips on his style and things to look for..... I should have the video done in Jan.....keep a eye open for it.......here is a short cut from some of the footage...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqP3ST2TE9k

 

[Diggler]

In case you do think he is "unreal" here are a couple of pics from his first year 2009 totals.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

That is lots of rings looks like a jewelry store !!

 

[diggindirt]

It's faster to get the targets out by fanning.

A large scoop is a real heavy workout that requires plenty of energy to use effectively.

Thanks for posting the video too!!!

 

[Goldak]

I read somewhere that a ping-pong paddle works well. HH!

 

[southernstyle]

n/t

 

[Infiniumexplorer Excalibur]

Thanks for the reply's and the info.

I'm not interested in using a detector, I owned an Excal 2 and own an Infinium and the beaches are well hunted. Using detector/scoop setup is useless around rocks, much quicker fanning.

I want to hunt in waters that are slightly to deep to walk, so I'll have to float and dive down a bit. I was thinking of using a mask and snorkel, something to fan with, do you guys think I should wear fins and use that to fan with whilst it's on my foot? Digger, is this how your friend used his fins, or did he have one in his hand?

 

[Chi Town Bruce]

n/t

 

[mudpuppy]

Well now you've done it! That pic from Diggler, and that vid from Beech has given me the fever!
I'm not sure that would work well up here in michigan...most of the people do not go beyond the first sandbar...at least thats what I'm gonna tell myself until springtime!
Santa...gonna need a full suit, hoodie...

 

[Willee - Texas]

That is great if the water is clear enough to see the bottom.

In most lakes it takes a lot longer for the mud to settle back down to see anything.

At a small lake in Alabama I took my metal detector and SCUBA equipment out in the morning when the water was fairly clear.
After the first scoop at the target the water around me became so cloudy I could not see anything.

I would think SCUBA equipment would work good for this type of hunting.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Thanks for the reply's and the info.

I'm not interested in using a detector, I owned an Excal 2 and own an Infinium and the beaches are well hunted. Using detector/scoop setup is useless around rocks, much quicker fanning.

I want to hunt in waters that are slightly to deep to walk, so I'll have to float and dive down a bit. I was thinking of using a mask and snorkel, something to fan with, do you guys think I should wear fins and use that to fan with whilst it's on my foot? Digger, is this how your friend used his fins, or did he have one in his hand?

First, water that is too deep to walk in? Ar you talking 4 foot? 5 foot? 6 foot? It really doesnt matter though. If you can float on the surface to look down for targets.... then what? Swim down to fan right? How are you going to stay on the bottom fanning? If you can float on the top, you will have trouble staying submerged. Waves.... while you are down there (un-weighted) the waves are going to be pushing you back and forth like a rag doll. Also, if don't have fins, you wont be able to move effectively in the water

Feel free to try it out... but if it was that easy everyone would be doing it that way.

 

[Tony]

Thanks for the reply's and the info.

I'm not interested in using a detector, I owned an Excal 2 and own an Infinium and the beaches are well hunted. Using detector/scoop setup is useless around rocks, much quicker fanning.

I want to hunt in waters that are slightly to deep to walk, so I'll have to float and dive down a bit. I was thinking of using a mask and snorkel, something to fan with, do you guys think I should wear fins and use that to fan with whilst it's on my foot? Digger, is this how your friend used his fins, or did he have one in his hand?

First, water that is too deep to walk in? Ar you talking 4 foot? 5 foot? 6 foot? It really doesnt matter though. If you can float on the surface to look down for targets.... then what? Swim down to fan right? How are you going to stay on the bottom fanning? If you can float on the top, you will have trouble staying submerged. Waves.... while you are down there (un-weighted) the waves are going to be pushing you back and forth like a rag doll. Also, if don't have fins, you wont be able to move effectively in the water

Feel free to try it out... but if it was that easy everyone would be doing it that way.

Jason is correct....you can't do it both ways. It's either walk with up to 30 pounds of lead and then drop to the sea floor to retrieve the target. Be careful not to walk too deep beyond the depth of the snorkel and practice your quick release of the lead dive belt should you need to get to the surface. Snorkeling/fanning without lead is a lesson in frustration even without a wetsuit that increases your buoyancy.
I walk to depths of 7 feet with a mask/snorkel and about 25 ponds of lead. I will drop and fan if the sand is loose and fine. In hardpack and shells then a scoop is needed as fanning won't remove the heavy shells. If you find yourself in depth over the snorkel then don't panic.....I will often push up hard from the sea floor to break the surface, clear my snorkel and breath again. You must also know exactly in which direction the shore is for shallower water if you get too deep. Dump the weight belt if you have to and retrieve it later. If you are weighted then you MUST be aware of what's going on around you if you find yourself suddenly in too deep a water...think clearly and concisely, panic is your enemy. The surface is only just above you but if you panic and lose your common sense then 6" to the surface may as well be 6 metres. Practice dropping your weight belt. I don't tether anything to my body (scoops or detector).
Have fun and find the good stuff,
Tony.

 

[hobbes_lives]

n/t

 

[John(Tx)]

I think he did good.

 

[lasergod]

cant wait to see more!

 

[Infiniumexplorer Excalibur]

Thanks for the reply's and the info.

I'm not interested in using a detector, I owned an Excal 2 and own an Infinium and the beaches are well hunted. Using detector/scoop setup is useless around rocks, much quicker fanning.

I want to hunt in waters that are slightly to deep to walk, so I'll have to float and dive down a bit. I was thinking of using a mask and snorkel, something to fan with, do you guys think I should wear fins and use that to fan with whilst it's on my foot? Digger, is this how your friend used his fins, or did he have one in his hand?

First, water that is too deep to walk in? Ar you talking 4 foot? 5 foot? 6 foot? It really doesnt matter though. If you can float on the surface to look down for targets.... then what? Swim down to fan right? How are you going to stay on the bottom fanning? If you can float on the top, you will have trouble staying submerged. Waves.... while you are down there (un-weighted) the waves are going to be pushing you back and forth like a rag doll. Also, if don't have fins, you wont be able to move effectively in the water

Feel free to try it out... but if it was that easy everyone would be doing it that way.

Jason is correct....you can't do it both ways. It's either walk with up to 30 pounds of lead and then drop to the sea floor to retrieve the target. Be careful not to walk too deep beyond the depth of the snorkel and practice your quick release of the lead dive belt should you need to get to the surface. Snorkeling/fanning without lead is a lesson in frustration even without a wetsuit that increases your buoyancy.
I walk to depths of 7 feet with a mask/snorkel and about 25 ponds of lead. I will drop and fan if the sand is loose and fine. In hardpack and shells then a scoop is needed as fanning won't remove the heavy shells. If you find yourself in depth over the snorkel then don't panic.....I will often push up hard from the sea floor to break the surface, clear my snorkel and breath again. You must also know exactly in which direction the shore is for shallower water if you get too deep. Dump the weight belt if you have to and retrieve it later. If you are weighted then you MUST be aware of what's going on around you if you find yourself suddenly in too deep a water...think clearly and concisely, panic is your enemy. The surface is only just above you but if you panic and lose your common sense then 6" to the surface may as well be 6 metres. Practice dropping your weight belt. I don't tether anything to my body (scoops or detector).
Have fun and find the good stuff,
Tony.

I was not describing what I was going to do, I was asking what was a good approach when deciding to fan targets, and contemplating options. You have however, given me some advice, thanks.

For now (for starters), I have a specific spot in mind, where diving down in 5.6' to 7' of water and fanning is the only option. Detecting there is pretty much useless, I have tried. There are targets there, those that I could detect. Using a scoop there is useless as you have to get underneath and in-between boulders of rocks. This area is probably a bit too deep for a beginner so I maybe have to practice.

I have a weight belt, snorkel/mask/fins and pingpong bat and I'm ready to go!