Metal Detecting in Dénia
Ten days in Dénia with daily detecting planned? We make plans, life changes them. Read about the bad luck I had in Spain with my detector.
July 2024, Dénia
In July, I travelled to Dénia in Spain. I was staying in an apartment right by the beach, so of course I had to bring my metal detector. The sea, the sunshine and a chance to search the sand. I couldn't wait.
Before the trip, I asked several times whether metal detecting would be a problem. I was told that people were often seen detecting on the beach. That sounded promising, so I packed mine.
My first outing was at sunset. After that, I also went out early in the morning, before sunrise. The beach was busy at both times. Some people were out for a walk, others were sitting and enjoying the sea views, while I searched the sand. Unfortunately, it was those early morning outings that got me into trouble.
Around six or seven in the morning, one or two female police officers would regularly patrol the beach on a quad bike. There were also workers picking up litter. The first two mornings were completely relaxed. The officers and I said hello, exchanged smiles and waved to each other. I wasn't hiding my detector, so I assumed they would say something if there was a problem.
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On the third morning, though, one of the officers came over and told me that metal detecting wasn't allowed there and that I had to leave the beach with my detector.
I don't know what had changed. Perhaps she had checked the rules, perhaps they had started enforcing them more strictly, or perhaps there was a seasonal restriction. Whatever the reason, from then on, whenever she saw me on the beach, she checked whether I had my detector with me.
Can you imagine spending ten days there and only getting one evening and three mornings of detecting? I'll admit that places where I can't detect tend to lose their appeal pretty quickly. To top it off, I had a pretty disastrous date while I was there. Thankfully, the delicious Spanish food and excellent sangria helped lift my spirits. 😄
Based on my experience, I can't recommend this particular beach in Dénia for metal detecting. This is simply what happened to me at one location, rather than a guide to the rules throughout Spain. Next time, I'd check directly with the local authorities and try to get an answer in writing. Seeing other people detecting, or getting a friendly hello from the police, unfortunately doesn't mean you have permission.
Have you tried metal detecting on any beaches in Spain? Let me know where you went, how you checked the local rules and how it all worked out. I'd love to hear your experiences.
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