Laura's Guide to Metal Detecting Sand Scoops

Now everyone enjoys going to the beach, me included, especially if I am going to go metal detecting. There are some, rules, guidelines, and etiquette around beach detecting which are good to follow. All beaches are owned by someone, either by the local authorities, the crown or privately owned. You will need to find out which of these applies as you wouldn’t want to get into any trouble. Some beaches require a permit, which you will be able to obtain, usually from the local information office. Any restrictions to metal detecting on a beach may be because it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or that the beach has ordinance left over from WWII, is a protected nature reserve or belongs to the Crown. For more information on Crown Estates land click here 

Beach Detecting Tips

I generally go out metal detecting just before sunrise when I usually have the foreshore to myself. It really is something to watch the sun come up whilst detecting and then having your breakfast on the beach. I like to metal detect when swimmers and sunbathers are still in bed, and I always wear headphones as then you don’t miss a signal. With the growth of social media, you may have seen videos of gold rings and items of jewellery being found on beaches. When possible, the best practice is to try and find out who lost these initially. I’ll be honest, I have never found anything yet of great value on the beach and I have been beach detecting for several years. Generally, what you are going to find are lost coins, toys, sunglasses, and YES, bottle tops and litter, but I am an optimist so keep on swinging!

It is great to beach detect with children once the day-trippers and sunbathers have gone home. I have fond memories of family holidays in the 90’s, when my brothers and I would go to the beach after dinner in the evenings with our dad. His incentive to us was that whatever loose change we found we could spend on ice-creams. After £30 on most evenings our mum put an abrupt halt to that! (Spoil sport!!)

Metal detecting on dry sand is a really good way of getting used to your machine - you don’t have to dig very hard, and you can quickly get used to pinpointing with your machine. I found this particularly easy when I first purchased my Minelab Equinox 800, as it is easy to use on the sand and with its built-in pin pointer it’s a timesaving, doddle to use. Wet sand or signals in the sea-surf can be harder as the signals tend to sink or move around with the tides and wave movements. My Minelab Equinox 800 is fully waterproof and submersible to a depth of three metres which means you can have a go further out into the sea or even under it!

Let’s talk about sand scoops!

These fall into three categories: Plastic, Mild steel and Stainless steel. What you buy entirely depends on what you are using them for, where you are going to use them and what sort of budget you have, I will explain more further on.
It can seem confusing when you look online and see the different types being used and their ease of use. I generally take two away with me, one for wet sand and one for dry sand. This depends on how brave I am feeling on the day really. The sea can be very cold at 5am!
I am going to give you the honest review of the below and you can make your choice. Being a female and quite short may affect which one to buy, so I have enlisted the help of my dad who has been beach detecting for as long as I can remember. 

EmiteR Sand Scoop S150

Made from stainless steel with a tubular scoop – price £79.95

Pros – I found this easy to put together as it consists of just two parts, but remember to rinse it thoroughly with fresh water after use as the sand may have collected in where the two parts join. If you are a seasoned detectorist, then this is the scoop for you. Yes, the head is slightly smaller than the Emitter 200X but using my Minelab Equinox 800 and being confident with its pinpointing ability I don’t need a wider scoop. It is easy to use, simply by pushing your foot on the back of the scoop and angling into the wet sand. The depth varies by the amount of pressure applied but this will be limited by the volume of the scoop head. In my trial it went to a depth of around six inches which is good especially with the wet sand and weight factor to be considered.
Cons – With me being short, the length of the handle is quite long, it can get quite heavy after a while carrying it. I did buy the recommended handle so I could carry it better and to give me more lifting ability with a full sand scoop. This handle is available as an add-on from Crawfords and I fully recommend purchasing one. 

EmiteR Sand Scoop 200X

Made from stainless steel with a bowl shaped scoop - £99.95

Pros – This scoop has a wide bowl shape which is pointed, this means you can dig a deeper, wider area. The holes are hexagonal, enabling you to shake the out sand quicker to retrieve finds. The achievable depth you can get, again, is around six inches, which in my opinion is enough. As with most long handled scoops it is brilliant for both wet and dry sand. If, like my dad you enjoy getting in the water then this is a must to have as the head is wider and you can dig out more sand in one full scoop, making find’s recovery quicker.
Cons – For me it was too bottom heavy, I am by no means weak but after a while it was cumbersome. Dad loved it.

Garret Sand Scoop

Made from toughened plastic with holes on the underside, Shaped like a jug - £27.95

Pros – Because this scoop is made of plastic it is most suitable for loose non-compacted sand. Once an item has been detected and scooped up, a quick shake is all that is needed to recover the item. Alternatively, you can go over the Garrett scoop with the detector head to check if the signal is inside. It is very light to carry and fits easily into any carry bag,
Cons – Because the plastic is quite thick, it is difficult to use on wet sand and shingle. Here, you are only able to get a couple of inches depth because of this. 

Black Ada

Made from mild steel, which is black powder-coated, just under half a metre in length - £21.99

Pros – It is small and compact, making it very light and comfortable to carry. The rubber handle makes it easy to hold and use and you can fit it easily inside your bag or pouch.
Cons – I found that this was difficult to use on wet sand as the holes are small and it is awkward to shake out the sand.

Black Ada Extended

Made from mild steel, which is black powder coated, just under a metre in length. - £29.99

Pros – The extended handle means you are bending less when digging. Very light to carry. The weight is distributed well throughout. I found this device was a perfect length for me as it was comfortable to use and ok for wet sand up to three inches in depth.
Cons – Unfortunately same as the previous, difficult to use on wet sand as the holes are small. With the Black Ada’s being made of mild steel, and powder coated, continuous use in wet sand, shingle and sea water may be a problem.

Summary

So, having tried and tested all the scoops, my personal preference is the Emitter Sand Scoop S150. It was just about the right size and was still good value for the price even though I bought an extra handle attachment for ease of lifting, Even if you use this once every year it will last as the quality is great. Because you can use this on both dry and wet sand, the Emitter Sand Scoop S150 was my favourite.

If your budget is tight or you just want to detect dry sand, the Garret scoop is a good starter. If you are detecting with children, it is fun to use as you, and they, can check the contents before you start to shake it, so saves on a lot of digging.

I sincerely hope you have gained something from this blog and if you have any questions about sand scoops or detecting in general, please reach out to the amazing team here at Crawfords Metal Detectors. They have nearly 30 years experience and are the official UK distributor For Minelab Metal Detectors. 

Crawfords Metal Detectors Home Page

Tel: 01724845608

These tests took place on Dorset beaches during the month of July 2023
Laura Wells - Detectorist and AMDS Consultant