This article is the first in a series and as for everything in life, there has to be a basis for anything worthwhile. The basis for doing well in metal detecting, in a word is understanding. There is more to metal detecting than you think! I firmly maintain there is a difference between metal detecting and hunting with a metal detector, and that is rule number one, the essence of which is: You must be willing to learn! To the extent that someone understands something, to that same extent will they do well. So don't rush, get the basics down first. Don't be so quick to find Montezuma's gold, that you forget to take pleasure in the journey. The true adventurers realize it's equally important to enjoy all facets of treasure hunting: the learning and understanding of the sport, the research, the hunt, and finally, the thrilling recovery. So, be calm, be smart, the gold will be there. Some of it's been there for centuries and will be there for centuries to come, or until someone who is wiser and understands the basics better happens along.

Let's talk about the amount of treasure that is lost. Off the coastline of Florida, it's been stated, that there is a galleon resting on the bottom, for every quarter-mile of shore line. And, of all the coins ever minted, more have been lost than are presently in circulation. At one of New York's popular beaches, a statistician conservatively estimate, and realistically too, that in a period of one-hundred years that particular beach and surrounding waters devoured over 5,000,00 pieces of gold jewelry. That figure is base on an average of only fifty good beach days per summer! What about the other days? Mmmmm....how about the other not so popular beaches?

To prove my point, here's a test for you. Ask yourself, and ten others you know if you, they or anyone else they know, have ever lost any jewelry. Add it up, and then smile. If you smiled for the right reason, then you understand the second basic principle of metal detecting: There is enough lost and abandoned treasure, consisting of gold, coins, jewelry, etc., just waiting to comfortably retire most if not all, of the serious treasure hunters!

Basic principle number three simply states: Water equals gold! Whether it's jewelry-laden bathers entering the water to swim, bodies oiled up with slippery suntan lotion. Frolicking hands with fingers that soon start to shrivel like a prune, until finally and almost unknowingly, they relinquish their jewelry to the deep. Maybe it's treasure-laden galleon ships sunk by storms or war, the bottom line is that water claims more gold than any marauding nation at war. It's almost ironic water can be so soothing to watch, so pleasant to swim in, so enjoyable to ride on, and all the while accepts, without remorse unimaginable riches.

Principle number four Treasure hunting sites like to sleep. Never, ever, allow anyone to !cad you into believing that a site is worked out, for two very good reasons. First. it is possible -o not recover any treasure at a known treasure site However, does that mean that :here is no treasure there? 0- is it buried under tons of sand that can be swept away, by an act of God, in the form of a storm? I've hunted sites where a few coins were all that was recovered after nine hours of metal detecting- Yet, six months later, forty to fifty exquisite pieces of antique gold jewelry surfaced from that exact same spot Currents had shifted the sand better than any expensive "mailbox" style prop-directed water flow.

The second reason. why you don't want to write off a site completely is that our metal detectors are not as good as tomorrows will be Just a year ago, it was difficult to cancel
unwanted iron targets in salt water and still maintain, reasonable depth into the oceans floor, Recently, technology has opened a door through which we entered and finally broke that barrier. We can now submerge a metal detector to two-hundred feet' in salt water, ma Main decent depth into the floor and yet ignore. junk such as nails I for one, am waiting for the ultimate detector that gives me good depth, yet accurately sounds off only on gold. If the cost were to be ten thousand dollars. I would be the first to purchase it, because in metal detecting as basic Principe number two states, I know that treasure is out there!

So. don t abandon a site YOU'VE worked.. If you think about, the hard part of your task is completed. YOU can now at least safely check off a site as rot having any immediate treasure. However, you now know the conditions, the terrain. the hazards and tie obstacles. Be wise and take this information and document it in a site log book. Include time, tide level, visibility, other conditions, type of terrain (rocky. sandy, muck, etc-) and items recovered Moreover a brief synopsis of your outing. It's amazing what the grey matter can forget
As an inducement for you to try this think of this Very possible scenario. You've worked five different locations but similar sandy-bottomed hunt sites in ore year Nothing was recovered, to speak of The following year. you quickly check one site and gold jewelry starts to pop out. You analyze the situation and realize that sometimes different The sand is gone and bottom rocks are now exposed. It's a brand new prosperous ball game. and you have four other identical ball parks to check out and play in.


Sharpen your skills Learn how to be a better- hunter, as in treasure hunter Learn how to recover targets more quickly. the more targets you recover, the greater your- chances for success increase Study Mother Nature she can be a great ally IF` you'll only take the time to understand her. Take time to think' What has happened here? What is happening now? What do I think will happen here?
Learn to develop a non losing attitude The persons with the right attitude will forbid tie negative and damaging effects of failure to dominate their lives They understand that the difference between failing and losing is that the loser doesn't get to again. One simple but effective way to develop a good treasure hunting attitude is to tell yourself, " If I don't recover something good today, what can I learn to improve upon today s experience?"
Another simple solution is to take a moment and appreciate the otter treasures that God has placed all around you. The salt air; stop and take a breath of air possibly smell: it for the first time How about the crashing surf, the squawking sea gulls The magnificent sun rises and sunsets, the exhilarating underwater  experience itself! The peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with coffee shared with some good friends aft-e- a hint? As for me, these are just some of my golden memories, one thing about them though, unlike common gold, they will live on.
So until the next episode. may you have good health happiness, and good hunting.
This article's the first in a short series written be
Fred Krupowicz. owner, operator of Treasures Unlimited Metal Detectors and Treasure Hunting Accessories Shop. located in East Patchogue, NY. If you are ever in the area stop by and say hello, coffee's always on.