First tried detecting with my dad in the early 60s. Fisher M scope. I used his several times since, through the late 60s and into the 70s. I didnt buy a detector until early 80s, when the underwater detectors were coming out. I bought a Garrett xl 200 and since it was a real piece of crap of a detector, kind of gave up UW detecting. It would only find big iron, and that was about it. I did try finding lost jewelry and it couldnt find anything. I still have it but never use it. It still is a terrible machine. I have used newer Garretts since and they still are bad UW machines. Like a J W Fishers only find big iron. Even in the last year. In the mid to late 80s I bought a White's surfmaster PI, and did OK with it, then found out about Mr Bill and his modifications. Had that done, then bought another that was modded also. Fantastic. Finding gold (and everything else). In the interim bought a huge coil PI to find extra deep stuff and it worked as it should, too good. And a couple VLF detectors for the kids, and a Tersoro Stingray, which was very sensitive on tiny gold, but too sensitive on saltwater-falsed constantly. Last year bought an old NY style Excal with the horse shoe coil. Great machine! Bought a 12x15" SEF coil for the Excal, but found it hard to move in the surf and went back to the 8" original for water use. Still use the big coil on the sand though.
