Under Section 2(1) (a) of the antiquities law of 1935 (amended 1973) any object
whether movable or part of immovable property is protected by law.
Section 14 (1) states that ` no person shall excavate or cause excavations to be made whether on his own land or elsewhere for the purpose of discovering antiquities without a license'.
Although not specifically mentioning metal detectors, section 14(1) implicitly rules
them out, nor can a landowner legally give permission for a search to be carried
out if it results in excavation.
Although it always pays to get some info before getting into trouble, most of the restrictions usually apply to inland sites. You are normally OK to detect on the beaches, as long as it isnt a private beach. It may also make a difference if you are in the Turkish (north) or Greek (south) sector.
It may be a good idea to get some local info before you go, then only take a cheaper backup machine.
Cyprus is like America. Canada to the north, the U.S. to the south. Different rules, different laws.
You do see people detecting both the Greek and the Turkish owned areas. I would not risk any area under Greek control but as with many other countries you can detect even though its "forbidden". Section 14(1) is a total ban on detecting for antiquities. As Rick O has pointed out modern coins are not antiquities. In many countries the same applies. You can't seek old items but if your looking for a lost ring or tool for a farmer etc and you find something old its not your fault.
In 2004/5 the Turkish Embassy was quite happy to allow detecting on beach or land subject to normal rules. Get permission off the landowner and if you find a hoard it should be declared not smuggled out of the country.
In 2004/5 the Turkish Embassy was quite happy to allow detecting on beach or land subject to normal rules. Get permission off the landowner and if you find a hoard it should be declared not smuggled out of the country.