Underwater detectors....which is best and why?

[wreckrat]

Hi,
I'm looking at buying a new underwater detector for diving with. I have used an old Excalibur before but see there are quite a few underwater detectors available nowdays. How can you tell which is the best? Excalibur is expensive but that doesnt always mean the best? What are other divers using? Is there one that stands out from the rest?
Help me please.

 

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[steve from ohio]

The guys at Mel Fisher's company use the Minelab Excalibur. Minelab even has a poster of the divers using the Excalibur at their museum. I talked to the guys over at the museum and they all swear by the Excalibur.

Must be a reason why they use it.

 

[wreckrat]

Yes the Excalibur has a good reputation. I have also been told the Aquascan is used by a lot of maritime museum and acheology departments. Im interested in what the differences are between the two.

 

[thompy]

the excal is a vlf, which has good discrimination properties, the aquascan is a pulse and they dont disc between, iron, gold, silver

 

[Tom_in_CA]

There's several underwater pulse detectors on the market, but of course, you'll have no way to discriminate out iron (barring a lot of second guessing on tones, sounds, etc...). So, assuming you meant discriminating underwater detectors, I'll give you my take, based on 2 I've used while scuba diving:

The Fisher CZ20 and the Excaliber: I found the Excaliber to be superior, because the long drawn out "boonnggggs" leave no doubt when you're over a target. Contrast to the fast little "beep" of the Fisher. You, as a diver, will know that the underwater world is noisy, right? Ie.: bubbles as you breath through your regulator, etc.... So I found that with the silent search CZ20, I found myself "holding my breath" so as not to miss the fast little beeps. And as you know, holding your breath while scuba diving is a no-no

Perhas it's just that I don't care for silent search to begin with, but for multiple reasons, I much preferred the Excaliber. Once you get used to the warbly sounds, you'll like it.

 

[Jason in TN]

The Excalibur. Why Becase it is the Excalibur. Nuf said

 

[davest]

If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy an Excal. I bought a sea hunter instead and have had a heck of a time learning it, pinpointing with it, and in short getting to like it. Wanna buy it?

 

[wreckrat]

ok thanks for all the replies. I think I'll go for the excal.

 

[how u do n]

fishers 1280x :P
I have had it for over 20 years love it
gl hh
dan

 

[vondrewvious]

If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy an Excal. I bought a sea hunter instead and have had a heck of a time learning it, pinpointing with it, and in short getting to like it. Wanna buy it?

With all due respect, if you can't pipoint with a sea hunter, good luck with an excalibur.