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| Feature | Vol. 34 - Sep. 2000 |
Cruising And Detecting
By Lucile Bowen
 Like a luxury hotel afloat in a Polynesian Paradise, the huge cruise ship offers its passengers every imaginable convenience and indulgence on a ten-day tour of five South Pacific islands. |
Did you ever think about taking a cruise and going metal detecting at the same time? We, Harry, my husband, and I joined Dick and Nancy Waters in Los Angeles to take a South Pacific cruise to five of the French Polynesian Islands. Our itinerary included Tahiti, Huahine, Moorea, Raiatea, and Bora Bora. We had tried to find out if we could metal detect, and although the answer was always positive, we still had our doubts. Despite this, we packed our detectors: Harry chose the Troy Shadow, and Nancy, Dick, and I packed White's PI's.
 Likely lost years ago, this heavy sterling silver ID bracelet may date back to WWII. |
These are all lightweight units and take up little room, a great consideration when packing and unpacking. With the weight and size of suitcases limited, we always pack our detectors as a carry-on so we can treat our "babies" carefully. Since carry-ons are now limited as well, we can no longer take our large Naugahyde bags as we used to, although I have seen some get away with this size on certain airlines. Always call and check this out in advance, so that you won't be turned down at the gate.
 While Harry and Lucile searched the dry sand, Dick and Nancy ventured out into waist-deep water. |
We were flying from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti. From there we would visit five islands and then return to Papeete and fly back to Los Angeles. At Papeete we would board a Renaissance cruise ship, where we would spend the next ten days at each island. We traveled at night, so it was actually like a traveling hotel, complete with four restaurants, entertainment, laundry facilities, two different floors with slot machines, a sports bar, swimming pool, exercise room, stores, and probably other facilities I've forgotten to mention. Our room had a balcony with two chairs and a table, and overlooked the ocean. The complete ship was air conditioned, which made it very comfortable. There are two temperatures over there... HOT and HOTTER! Otherwise, it was Paradise come true.
 Towering cliffs hung with thick white clouds... lush green hillsides sloping below... water a sparkling kaleidoscope of brilliant blues... no matter what you find here with your detector, you're sure to bring home pictures and memories you'll treasure! |
The first day on Tahiti we hired a cab whose driver spoke fair English and took us on a tour around the island. Finding out where the city beach was, was one of our main goals. We had an excellent library aboard ship that allowed us to read on the various islands, and the only two that seemed to have beaches were Tahiti and Bora Bora.
The second day we rented a cab and headed to the city beach, where we found coins but little else. Here we learned that Le Truck is the native's mode of transportation and a good way to travel. It's a truck bed with a top and windows put over, and seats running lengthwise for a total of three. If you were lucky enough to get a side seat, it was fine; however, if you sat in the middle it took a little more ingenuity to balance all of your equipment and stay upright. None of the natives looked at us curiously, so we knew that we weren't the first detectorists to search on their island.
 After recovering a heavy gold chain with a bezel attached, Dick Waters was determined to find the missing coin, and he did- a U.S. $2-1/2 gold piece! |
The islands were beautiful, with sharp cliffs and mountains covered with lush green vegetation. The pineapple grown here is much smaller than what we get in the States. It is also much sweeter, and even the core is tender and delicious. We next visited Raiatea, Moorea and Huahine. They were beautiful islands, too, and each day the tenders would take us to shore. They ran every half hour, all day, until eight o'clock at night. When we were able to anchor at a dock, we were free to come and go as we pleased. While these islands were a sight to see, and the ways of the people who inhabit them are fascinating, the sheer rocky cliffs prevent any beaches from forming.
 Author Lucile Bowen's detecting adventures have taken her to more than a few distant destinations, but none lovelier, she says, than these enchanting islands. |
The last island was Bora Bora, which celebrated author James Michener once proclaimed the most beautiful in the world- and while I have not seen all the islands, I will agree with him, as I cannot imagine any island that would outdo it. When we looked out from our balcony, we could see sun-drenched white sand beaches, and the water separating us was a kaleidoscope of bright greens and sky blues. Of course, the first thing we did was get our detectors ready and catch the first shuttle to shore. This was the one we had been waiting for!
 Searching along and just beyond the beach, the vacationing couples found quite a few coins still in spendable condition. |
Again Le Truck proved to be the best mode of transportation- well, at least the least expensive- and we also felt more a part of the island. Matira Beach was about six miles out of town, and the day was just right. We lathered sun cream all over us, and then Nancy, Harry, and I started hunting the beach, while Dick took to the water. He was soon recovering lots of coins and finally found a sterling ring. By now Nancy was also in the water, and Harry and I were just visiting with tourists. I was watching some sunbathers stretched out on the beach and waiting to detect there when they left, as it was one section we had not hunted. Then we heard Dick yelling, "Hey, I found a heavy gold chain, and it looks like it had a gold piece on it, but I knocked it out of the bezel with my scoop. I'm staying right here until I find the gold piece!" Dick is six-foot-six and was working about two blocks out in the water. The bottom was nice white sand but had pockets of coral that we had to wade around. Well, I guess you know his shout got me out in the water, too!
The coins were plentiful, and some were quite deep, although none predated WWII. We also found shell casings from the war. Meanwhile, Dick was staying right after that gold coin, and his tenacity paid off as we heard him yell, "I've found it! It's a $2-1/2 Indian in beautiful shape!" That night found Dick wearing a heavy gold chain with the gold piece hanging from it, and the other passengers began to take note and think maybe "those crazy treasure hunters" weren't so crazy after all.
The next day Harry and I opted to see the island, while Dick and Nancy again went water hunting on the same beach, as the targets were still plentiful. That evening they returned, and this time it was Nancy who had the gold. She had found two men's heavy 18K rings. Dick had found a heavy sterling ID bracelet that probably dated from WWII, and a couple more sterling rings, along with a money clip. Figuring their value out in U.S. cash, they had in excess of $80 in coins. We had forgotten to bring along anything to clean the coins, but most of them were spendable anyway.
 When it comes to detecting, Dick Waters wades right in, and a single big signal rewarded him with 14 coins! |
The water there is calm, with no heavy waves to keep you from hunting, and temperatures are in the 90s. Just be sure to take plenty of sunscreen.
Harry and I had a wonderful learning experience touring the island. We had a tour guide who had left Seattle, Washington some ten years earlier to take the island trips. He and his wife returned home, quit their jobs, and have now become a part of the island. They have no regrets and were eager to leave the city life. We saw Marlon Brando's grass-thatched home over the beautiful blue water. It has two bedrooms and hot running water, and the guide told us that it rents for $2,000 a month. We also saw another beach, but it was much smaller. We learned that this beautiful island is still part of the past, as they take care of their own deaths in the family and bury them on their own property. This is part of their heritage.
Bora Bora, you are indeed the most beautiful island that I have ever seen. I was told that the waters have such brilliant color because they have the heaviest salt content in the world and this, mixed with the white sands and the reflection of the sun's rays, causes the most vivid hues I have ever seen in water. Best of all, our trip to Paradise was not only memorable but very affordable. The total cost of our trip each person from Los Angeles was $1,295, plus gratuities. Could those faraway islands be calling you, too?
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