Metal Detecting at Lake Moultrie (Santee Cooper)
Berkeley County · Midlands · Utility lake
Last verified:
The rules
Lake Moultrie is a Santee Cooper (state utility) reservoir connected by canal to the Cooper River dive waters; submerged artifacts and fossils are State property, so recovering them requires a SCIAA Hobby License under the Underwater Antiquities Act (S.C. Code 54-7-630/670). Collection must be by hand — no digging, dredging or mechanical devices — with quarterly reporting to SCIAA. Santee Cooper Property Management controls the shoreline.
Permit: Required (SCIAA Hobby License) for artifact/fossil recovery
📞 Call ahead: 800-925-2537 (confirm the current rule before you go)
Why detect here
Santee Cooper lake feeding the famed Cooper River dive waters — artifact/fossil recovery requires the SCIAA hobby license
Digging restricted here? A waterproof pinpointer finds a target's exact spot so you can check surface finds without cutting turf. The Garrett Pro-Pointer AT is the standard. See the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT → Detectors & gear by budget →
More spots nearby: Midlands, Lakes & Rivers · See the full South Carolina metal detecting laws · federal rules · which detector to buy
Source: S.C. Code Title 54, Ch. 7 (Underwater Antiquities Act) + Santee Cooper Lakes. Verify against the managing authority before detecting.