Best Beach/Water Detectors?

[MetalDetectorDude]

I'm looking to buy a water machine to hit the shorelines and shallow water (salt and fresh).

I know the dirt side of the game . What are the top water detectors out there?

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Hope this helps:

 

[MetalDetectorDude]

Wow, thanks for the great info.

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

For shallow water detecting and diving in fresh and salt water and on the beach (wet and dry) sand VLF multifequency metal detectors are best. The Minelab Excalibur, Fisher CZ21 and Whites BHID 300 are the most popular in the ordered listed.


IF you want maximum depth, dig all - no discrimination, you will want a Pulse Induction (PI) metal detector.
In comparison to multifrequency beach detectors which are more general purpose, PI detectors are more selective.
The most popular PI detectors for shallow water hunting, diving, and wet sand hunting on salt water beaches are the Tesoro Sand Shark, Whites Surfmaster PI Dual Field, Garrett Sea Hunter Mark ll, and the Garrett Infiniium LS (land & Sea).

With the exception of the Garrett Sea Hunter Mark ll and the Garrett Infinium LS all of the coils and headphones on the above multifequency VLF and PI detectors are hardwired.

Many beach hunter prefer the more flexible and powerful Minelab Sovereign (compared to the Excalibur) as it is less expensive and since it is not hardwired t supports different coils, head phones as well as meter and an inline probe accessories. It can be used for dry and wet sand hunting at fresh and salt water hunting and up to knee deep water (with great care - it is not water proof). I do not recommend it as it is not as rugged as the above detectors (drop it in the salt water, and it becomes a very expensive boat anchor), and it is no longer in production, meaning that it cannot be repaired, once parts are used up. It is a shame, as in my opinion it is the best of the best.

All-Terrain VLF and PI detectors can also be used for shallow water salt and fresh water hunting such as the Minelab multifequency CTX 3030 and the new Garrett ATX Extreme PI. As these detectors are more expensive and a depth limitation of only ten feet (whimpy- in my opinion) I do not consider them suitable for diving.

Use of the Garrett AT Pro which began the All Terrain category, is iffy - success depending on your skills and how mineralized the soil is. You may be able to get by with it in lightly mineralized soils, most likely not. Great detector other wise, priced to be affordable, lot to like.

 

[MetalDetectorDude]

Thanks guys. It looks like Minelab has the best water machines as well. I hesitate to pay so much for a Minelab because their support has been lousy (to say the least) in the past... if only they could improve the support.

 

[Smooth Blend]

i've recently purchased a minelab detector and service has been great, but if you're still hesitant just purchase from one of the vendors here, they give the hottest deals and support is great as well.

 

[dieselram94]

I love my sand shark. Lifetime warranted and way less expensive than Minelab. If money was no object go for the Minelab excalibur...

Sent from my SCH-R930 using Tapatalk 2

 

[MetalDetectorDude]

Diesel - so you dig just about everything? Have a lot of success with the shark?

 

[dieselram94]

The shark goes DEEP! I am getting better at deciding what to dig but always best to dig everything. Usually easy digging on the beach sands so it only takes a few seconds per target usually. Double beeps are often a bobby pin.

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[Terry Soloman]

I use the Sand Shark as well:

 

[bigscoop]

It's all in what you want out of a machine, really. With every machine chosen there is some measure of give and take. The other big factor is where you will doing most of your hunting, i.e., some machines do well in some environments but struggle in others. My advice, first determine what you want from a machine, and second, evaluate where you will doing most of your hunting. "Beach and Shallow Water" is pretty broad based, not exactly the case sometimes. Some beaches are fairly clean, others can be loaded with iron scrap, some can even be loaded with hot rocks of various metal types, iron, copper, etc. Some machines fair well in harsh conditions, other just aren't up to the task. A big difference between the best machine and the right machine.

 

[DewGuru]

Best machine is the one your using when you make your best find ...
Personally, I use the Shark.

 

[DonM]

The Minelab Excal is the Cadillac version of water units - but the Chevy version - a Whites Beach Hunter ID is not a bad choice either - for less money....one thing about Whites detectors - you very rarely hear someone complaining about warranty service issues or cost to repair after the warranty has expired.....but then again I may be biased as I just traded my MXT Pro for a Beach Hunter.

 

[DixieLandMan]

I have a Fisher CZ-21 that I use in salt water and I like it. Dig everything.

 

[squiggy]

So I have a question..I want to upgrade..if I want to hunt on land and wet and dry sand and shallow water, but don't want to dig a post hole woukd the AT be a good fit?
I live in the Santa Cruz ca area..

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[dieselram94]

So I have a question..I want to upgrade..if I want to hunt on land and wet and dry sand and shallow water, but don't want to dig a post hole woukd the AT be a good fit?
I live in the Santa Cruz ca area..

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I would say you really need two different detectors...one for land the other for the beach.

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[gamiller]

As probably suggested by Terry the two detector approach is a good one. One vlf and one pi machine It's a versatile approach.

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

There's always a CTX for a land/water machine.

 

[RustyGold]

Great video Terry!
Clear, concise and lots of good info!
I have two detectors. Excalibur II and an AT pro.
Both serve me well!

 

[toe2short]

I have the CTX, which is a great water & land machine combined. My problem is a good set of water-proof head phones that are adaptable for the CTX. I have read a lot of posts from people that are complaining they are having problems hearing when it is windy. I don't want to add a plug or modify my head phones in any way. I would rather pay for a good set and be able to use them right out of the box.