WET SAND & SHALLOW WATER HUNTING TIPS:

see also:
reading the beach
water hunting with the explorer
who dares wins
water 3
formulate a plan
mineralization
wetsand

Few detectorists are equipped to hunt in the water, but everyone can hunt minus tide exposed sand which underlay the common swimming areas. Most jewelry is lost in the water so the most potential is on these swimming areas. The water acts as a lubricant on rings, the cool temperature of the water numbs your skin, and the surf or your excited movement provides the force that can strip any piece of jewelry off of you. By the time you notice the loss, it's too late!
In Southern California, the fall minus tides change to the afternoon and the swimming areas can be easily hunted. But if you can go in the water, do it in the summer while targets are still there. Waiting risks a storm or heavy surf removing, covering or deepening the easy targets.

Remember, there are two general zones where jewelry is lost. The first is waist to chest deep where young adults body surf and play and second, the extremely shallow water where mom, dad and grandparents expose their youngsters to the water. The latter is as good as the former with the advantage of more expensive jewelry (diamonds) potential. Most of the diamond rings I have found were caught in the wave lap at the water's edge. Most of the gold was in the deeper zone. These zones change with the tide so for recent losses, check depth of the tide during the prime swimming hours for that weekend, holiday, etc. Look at the low tide; if you can gain at least a one foot less or more depth advantage, go for it. This means, however, that you are in the surf and contending with its problems. First, being banged around by the surf is not fun, so limit your depth to where you are comfortable with it. Second don't fight the surf or the current unless your trying to stay on a target. Move with it slowly. You'll be surprised how long you can last, but only if you move slowly and stay warm. I wear either a long sleeved surfer's rash guard shirt and farmer john type wetsuit in summer or a heavy full wetsuit in winter. Reef runners or high booties are on my feet at all times. When I find a target, I mark it with the coil and plant my left foot touching the back of the coil. Then I remove the coil and position the scoop touching my foot, pointing toward the target, and push it into the sand. In waist deep or more surf, taking too much time risks that the waves will lift and move you off the target. Try to plant your scoop into the bottom fast and hold it in position during passage of the waves, keeping the targets location. If you use a lanyard connecting you to your scoop (recommended), make it long enough so you don't drag it off your target while getting bounced by a wave. Plan on digging into or away from the wave direction (into is better). Don't bring up the scoop in a heavy current or close to the passage of a wave. If you do, you risk losing your target. I lost a watch that way. All I saw was the expansion band disappearing over the edge of the scoop. I could not find it again as the current was very fast parallel with the shoreline. At least it did not appear to be an expensive one. If the surf conditions prevent you from doing an effective job (in the surf) go shallower. Kelp or seaweed can be a real problem. Stay out of it. I wear 6 lb. of dive weights on my belt in summer and 8-10 lb. in winter. They offset the buoyancy of the wetsuit and help you keep on your feet in the surf. Try carrying your scoop on your shoulder, above the water. This adds a lot of negative buoyancy without added weight.