A C172 PLT LANDS ON A BEACH AND ENDS UP HAVING A PROP STRIKE AS THE NOSEWHEEL SUNK INTO THE SAND.

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I WAS THEN EAGER TO EXPLORE MORE LNDG AREAS FURTHER S NEARER TO A GOOD FISHING HOLE. AFTER A FEW EXPLORATORY LOW PASSES I DETERMINED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SUITABLE LNDG AREA. AS I SET THE MAIN WHEELS DOWN I HELD FULL AFT ELEVATOR. AS I SLOWED AND THEREFORE LOST ELEVATOR EFFECTIVENESS THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN AND BEGAN TO SINK IN THE SAND. IN A FEW MORE SECONDS THE ACFT CAME TO A STOP WITH THE NOSEWHEEL BURIED IN THE SAND. THE PROP STRUCK THE SAND AND STOPPED THE ENG. MY BROTHER (THE ONLY PAX) AND I WERE ABLE TO FREE THE ACFT AND PUSHED IT A FEW FT TOWARD THE SEA TO MORE STABLE SOIL. I INSPECTED THE PROP; AND IT DID NOT APPEAR BENT. I STARTED THE ENG AND NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION THAT SMOOTHED OUT WHEN FULL PWR WAS APPLIED. I THEN DECIDED THAT I WOULD FLY THE ACFT HOME; BECAUSE WHAT LITTLE DAMAGE THERE WAS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE ACFT. WHEN I RETURNED THE ACFT TO THE FBO WHERE I HAD RENTED IT THEY DECIDED TO SEND THE PROP OFF FOR BALANCING. THEY ALSO REMOVED THE ENG AND SENT IT FOR A TEAR DOWN AND INSPECTION. MY BIGGEST REGRET FROM THIS INCIDENT IS THAT I ALLOWED MYSELF TO EXPLORE AND ATTEMPT LESS AND LESS SUITABLE LNDG AREAS TO THE POINT WHERE I FINALLY DAMAGED A VERY NICE AIRPLANE. AT SOME POINT I SHOULD HAVE SET A RULE FOR MYSELF NOT TO TRY AND LAND A $100000 AIRPLANE ON THE BEACH FOR FUN.