Actually, the advice about the thong/bikini is only half joking. But I think it would backfire.
If you are attractive enough to wear skimpy clothes on the beach without embarassment, they would be a distraction, but not like the posters said.
The more attractive you are, the more attention you get on the beach, detector or not. But if you are attractive, and call attention to that fact, the guys are going to swarm like flies. The detector will only be a conversation device. They may ask about it, but they will really be interested in your "flotation devices"
So, I would advise you dress down. Dress dowdy. The less attention you get, the better.
Guys interested in you for your looks wont come around using the detector as an excuse to talk to you. But of course, there are loads of us detector guys you might run into, who really will be interested in your detector, rather than your flotation devices. They wont be so easy to discourage!
Pepper spray is a good idea, and some sort of foot protection.
Hugger