Florida Beach Help

[AugustMoose87]

So, I've done loads of detecting with my Xterra 705 here in Colorado, doing coin shooting, relics, jewelry recoveries, property marker locates,etc in all kinds of soil. Only thing I haven't succeeded at yet is gold prospecting, but I also haven't spent a ton of time on that either. It's looking like I might get to take a trip to Florida around Thanksgiving, so I'm trying to brush up and prepare for the new environment. I'm re-reading my manual and "understanding your xterra" as we speak, but and advice (general or machine specific) would be great. This will be my first salt water/ REAL beach hunt (I've done a few fresh water swim beaches here).

The only water-proof coils I currently have are 3kHz concentric 9", 7.5kHz concentric 9" and 18.75kHz DD 15". Are one of these a good option, or should I use this as an excuse to get a new coil? Or should I just stay out of the water and bring something else?

Any suggestions for the area around Vero Beach and Orland (or anyone wanting to get together) would be great as well.

 

[ColonelDan]

For dry sand yes, for wet salt sand and surf, you're going to be challenged. Single frequency machines don't do as well in salty environments. Also, suggest you keep the control box covered and protected from the salt spray of the beaches.

Good luck...and welcome to Florida.

 

[ARC]

For dry sand yes, for wet salt sand and surf, you're going to be challenged. Single frequency machines don't do as well in salty environments. Also, suggest you keep the control box covered and protected from the salt spray of the beaches.

Good luck...and welcome to Florida.

Yeah... what Col. Dan said.

 

[cudamark]

Bring something else if that's an option. You need something with more than one operating frequency. Something designed for a salt water beach and waterproof would be best....such as a CTX, Excalibur, CZ21, or BHID. If you're not going into the water deeper than your calves, you can use other non-waterproof machines like the Sovereign, Explorer, E-trac, CZ3D, Etc, but, as mentioned, protect it from salt spray and tether it so that if you accidentally drop it, it won't hit the water. All modern coils designed for these machines are waterproof.

 

[Ed Osmar]

You could also use an AT pro or MX sport. Both good for about ten foot of water. Sen not the best but have seen rings found with them.

 

[AugustMoose87]

Sadly I'm the only metal detectorist I know, so I don't have much of an option to bring something else. Long term I'd like to upgrade to a CTX, but I don't think that will happen before then

 

[GroundBalanced]

I agree with the other posters on machines for the various beach environments.
But another thing to consider that you will need (just to make sure you thought about it) is a good sand scoop (for dry sand) and water scoop (for wet sand).
If you want something to do both, you can certainly do that too - just keep in mind the best wet sand scoop is usually pretty heavy for a long day on dry sand.
Lots of opinions on the best ones, but my guess is you just need something to have fun with on dry & wet so try not to break the bank, but also consider that most dry-sand rated scoops are only going to do so much before breaking (in wet sand).
I know West Coast FL has places to rent machines & scoops, so maybe do some digging (see what i did there?) for the East Coast FL area and see if that's an option for you on the wet-machine, or the scoop.

 

[sandswimmer]

I use my 705 with the HF Elliptical coil on FL. beaches all the time, but dry sand only!
There are MD shops that rent detectors, you might check that out. I know of a couple, but on the west coast near Tampa.
SS

 

[CASPER-2]

Sadly I'm the only metal detectorist I know, so I don't have much of an option to bring something else. Long term I'd like to upgrade to a CTX, but I don't think that will happen before then

Beach and Shallow Water
you never know - if you ask someone down there if they want to hook up - they might have a spare water machine you can try
think some dealers down there might have rentals too

 

[AugustMoose87]

I have A[/I ] scoop that I got with my machine, but it isn't anything special. I think based on its performance it's a dry scoop, but I've used it in both with no issues.

I'm going to look in to some rentals, but some of my searching indicated in the general area, that water is off limits... high tide to low tide was all you could detect (so obviously I may still be dealing with wet sand)

 

[pearson]

Agree with coldan

 

[LawrencetheMDer]

You could also use an AT pro or MX sport. Both good for about ten foot of water. Sen not the best but have seen rings found with them.

This comment does not apply to salt water.

 

[high&dry]

Fellow Coloradoan, I used my xterra 705 on that same beach in January and it did ok. I was finding things very deep in both dry and wet sand around vero and wabasso. you can detect any of the dry sand as long as its not turtle egg area. I was using a Cors strike which is very similar to your 15" DD. Ground balancing the wet sand was a bit tricky and I'm sure not ideal, but it will still let you find stuff if it's there to be found. Search my posts for my full write up on the coil and the beach! Good Luck! By the way, after hanging down there a bit, the wife and I have decided we are making the move to FL next summer, tired of the snow and cold and lack of boating here.

 

[ecmjamsit]

I moved here from Cocoa Beach. After evacuating a few times due to hurricanes, all the insurance companies bailed on writing any new policies. Good luck on the beach hunt!