As I said on the other thread, there used to be a man who daily used a metal detector on MorningStar Beach. Read the article below about the men who traveled here to use their metal detectors underwater. One mentions how he has swept the beaches & mentions "Morningside" which I'm sure is supposed to be Morningstar.

http://www.streeter.org/community/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=325

Trade,

I do remember reading your other thread where you mentioned that you saw someone everyday detecting on Morningstar. I just wasn't sure if he was supposed to be there. I know my husband does not want to detect if people will come up to him and say something. I know some places have it posted that you are not allowed but wasn't sure if Morningstar or BVI has an unwritten rule against it. The article you posted though makes me think there should not be a problem. Thanks so much!!

I know I should probably keep my mouth shut, but I have read one too many threads on this.

People go to the Virgin Islands to relax on sunkissed beaches surrounded by others that are doing the same thing. Personally I would be annoyed with someone metal detecting on a perfectly beautiful caribbean beach.

Please don't jump all over me, it is just my opinion.

It seems like a strange hobby even to me. I am married to a man who works 75 hours a week so he does not have time for any other hobbies. This one is it. You would be amazed with traveling to Hawaii (he found someones wedding band for them on Waikiki) , Aruba, Bahamas, Mexico how many people come up to him while he is doing it asking questions and being very interested. No one has ever acted annoyed. My husband could never sit on a chair on a beach for any more than 5 minutes so for me it is a great hobby because it gives me a chance to sit on the beach myself.

I agree with X. Do people want to see me re-building my Harley's carb on the beach? Re-timing it? Chaning the plugs? Washing it? C'mon, working on my Harley is one of MY favorite hobbies. But, I think not. It's not the place for it. But, if I DID, I'm sure than many people would come up to me and start conversations about it...because it's not normal! It's not what folks pay for when they think "Ahhh....the Caribbean, that's where I'll go!" YOU may have some peace...but at the expense of every other person on the beach? I think most people are annoyed, but too polite to mention anything, as I think they believe it's not their place to do so. Just MY opinon on this subject...

My Mother has had Metal Detecting as a Hobby ever since I can remember and brought her detector with her when she came down to visit. There ARE plenty of places that you can do this, without a problem! This Hobby has helped MANY a guest in the loss of Hotel Keys, jewelry, etc and I have never seen a time when someone was offended. In fact interested! It is no different than anyone else being on the beach - you just need to keep plenty of space between you and any others on the beach. There are definitely beaches that do not want metal detectors- Magens Bay being one of them and that is because they have one person that has his domain (this was years ago, not sure if this is still in place) My X husband too, took up this hobby and still has a detector to this day, tho he rarely has time to play with it! There are many treasures to be found and as I said it is a HELPFUL tool as well! Why would someone want to take up this hobby? You would be crazy to not want to! Treasure honey! We all dream at that day when we could find a treasure! Why not, and who should judge? I myself have never done it, but there certainly is no harm! Just be courteous to other peoples surroundings! AND get permission from the management of wherever you intend on using it! 🙂

I'd rather see someone with a metal detector than those motorized water skiing things buzzing about but that's just me & I know lots of people love them. Frankly, I think that metal detecting would be a blast. I know Morningstar actually used to ask this man to try to find jewelry that guests had lost.

I hardly think that metal detecting would cause someone a lack of peace especially since it does not create noise.Fixing your Harley is hardly a comparison. The main place you do this hobby is on the beach. Everyone is different and has different interests. People come up to him not because he is not normal, he really is, but because they are truly facinated. It may not be of any interest to yourself but everyone is different.

To each his own. Here is my previous comment on the subject...

"Detecting is always allowed but you must use a particular method rather than relying on electronic assistance. It requires one to gradually work their toes into the sand feeling the way while dreaming about the treasures to be found. This 'technique' can be mastered while walking or reclining and works better while looking around hearing the water, wind, etc. rather than listening for beeps.

One of two things occur; you find what you are looking for or you redfine what you're looking for :)"

I really hope your husband can slow down to island time. 75 hours a week and can't sit still is a health issue waiting to happen. The VI can really help if he gives it a chance. Have a great time regardless of what you decide to do.

Thanks, I hope he can slow down too! The 75 hours a week is due to the "joys" of being self employed!

Hello buzzystjohn,

Here are my 2... 3 cents :D.

I can't think of ever seeing someone with a metal detector at a popular beach (non-resort and resort) on St. Thomas during the day... meaning when the beach is full of people. I have seen folks metal detecting at a couple resort & non-resort beaches early in the am and late in the afternoon... and during the day after a big storm (when of course there were only a few people on the beach).

As for some folks saying they would be annoyed... The beaches here are narrow, so you've got the shore/water line... where people are walking, getting in and out of the water, kids playing and you've got a narrow 'dry sand' area where beachgoers have claimed their little spot with their chair or towel. Of course there are exceptions, but in general the beaches here aren't that wide. Take say Magens Bay or Coki or Sapphire (those are popular beaches); on a busy day someone with a metal detector really would be navigating closely around people because of the width of the shore. So sure you might bug some people and you are also likely to find folks that think its cool and want to know what you've found. This wouldn't be much of an issue at the more off the beaten path beaches.

The legality of it...

I tried the Parks & Recreation office and Dept. of Natural Resources (not sure which is the right office) but didn't get an answer yet - will try again.

I called Magens Bay Authority - the guy that answered said metal detecting is ok if done before 7am or after 5:30pm, but not when beach goers are there in large numbers during the day. (I know some board participants wrote it wasn't allowed at Magens on a similar thread so I'll add that sometimes you can call the same office and speak to a different person and get a different answer ;)...)

I suspect what the guy at Magens Bay Authority said is what the resort beaches would say as well. While the beaches are public (that is why I was trying the Parks & Recreation office to see what their input was) its only up to a certain point on the beach. And since the resort property is typically how you get to the beach... some employee may have something to say if they see you metal detecting when the beach is full of people/guests. Without calling all the resorts I don't know what their policies are... I did try Morningstar since that is the beach you asked about... first person didn't know, got voice mail for the person they thought would know - so no answer as yet. And the last person that was asking about metal detecting had asked about Secret Harbor... I checked there and the first lady didn't know, the 2nd lady wasn't sure so went and asked someone and came back and said that it shouldn't be a problem so long as the person isn't disturbing any of the guests or beach goers. (I'll add a note here on something East Ender pointed out in another thread, Secret Harbor is a Marine Sanctuary... so the Parks and Recreation... or other gov't entity might say its not allowed because of its protected status???)

Marty mentioned it not being normal... on that note I'd say its not common and so at resorts there may be a policy about it and there may not, so I guess it would be up the security/employee that happens to be there that day to make the decision and ask you to stop or let you do your thing.

I also called the VI National Park on St. John to double check - its not allowed.

Stay tuned for answer I get from the gov't offices.

--Islander

Islander,

That is so nice of you to take the time to find out, I really do appreciate that! I only mentioned Morningstar because we are staying on St. John and thought taking the ferry to St. Thomas, that would be the closest beach without much of a taxi ride. My husband also has a water metal detector as well where he can detect in the shallow areas of the water. Thanks again, I hope what you find out is helpful for others who ask the same question in the future. It is a lot of work for him to bring everything which is why I am trying to find out now instead of when we get there. Thanks again Islander!!

Islander, thank you so much for calling Secret Harbour. That was so nice of you. I was the one that asked this same question a few weeks ago regarding Secret Harbour.

Someone mentioned this hobby not being "normal". I was merely looking for things my 8 and 4 year old could do while on the beach. They would love to dig for a "hidden treasure". I don't believe the intention is to bother or irritate anyone, simply a way to pass time.

I've never seen anyone using a metal detector in the VI. I have seen people using them on beaches on Cape Cod and it never bothered me in the least. I did find it kind of a peculiar interest, sort of the way i feel about stamp collecting.

I guess the things that irritate me when I'm on a beach are the noisy things. Jet skis, helicopters overhead, obnoxious drunks and loud music.

Islander: What the people who operate the resort say and what the owners say may be two different things. There are more units that are not in the hotel plan, and many of the (long time) owners jealously guard "their" beach.

EastEnder,

I still find this humorous about people jealously guarding "their beach". First of all: Probably not their beach. Secondly: Most detector folks are removing debris from "your" beach and not digging holes as deep as "your" grandchildren are. I guess it's been said before: "Ignorance is bliss".

Hello,

I got through to the Commissioners office at the Dept. of Parks and Recreation and the lady I spoke with said she didn't know of any laws against metal detecting on the regular public beaches and she added that its the first time she had someone ask about it. I was also trying the Dept of Planning & Natural Resources - haven't gotten the right person as yet.

buzzystjohn - there are a couple other beaches that are sort of close to the CA ferry, Emerald Beach and Brewers Beach. Emerald Beach (or Lindberg Bay) has a couple hotels on it. Brewer's Bay is a more off the beaten track beach as far as visitors, popular with residents on the weekends; it’s next to the University. And if you took the Red Hook ferry then you are relatively close to all the East End beaches. I spoke with a security person at Morningstar Resort, he said because beaches in the VI are public he couldn’t stop you from using a metal detector on the shoreline of the beach. He added that it’s best to avoid where the guests are sitting because if one of them was to complain then a security person would intervene.

arwallace - my experience with 4 year olds is that they don't stick to one activity very long so I see why you are looking for various options to keep them occupied ;). LOL. Since Secret Harbor is a protected bay I wanted to find out if that status affected the legality of metal detecting - haven't gotten though to the right gov't office as yet.

A sidenote to East Ender's comment... while beaches are public it’s only up to a certain point and the beach/land beyond that is usually private property and as such should be respected. So if metal detecting is allowed at Secret Harbor in terms of the law then it should be done in the area considered public.

For general reference on what is considered public here is a quote from the open shoreline policy "...shorelines of the United States Virgin Islands" shall mean the area along the coastlines of the United States Virgin Islands from the seaward line of low tide, running inland a distance of fifty (50) feet; or to the extreme seaward boundary of natural vegetation which spreads continuously inland; or to a natural barrier; whichever is the shortest distance. Whenever the shore is extended into the sea by filling or dredging, the boundary of the shorelines shall remain at the line of vegetation as previously established."

Hope this helps.

--Islander

Islander,

That helps tremendously!! I really appreciate you taking the time to find all that out for us! I hope it is helpful to others in the future who have the same question. I find it amazing that the person you talked to had never been asked that before! Thanks again, I will pass the info on to my husband!