I have two Excals, CZ20, 1280's and a Tiger Shark along with acouple PI's. I perfer the Excal over the Tiger for one reason, it's extra depth with it's DD coil coverage. However, the Tiger has interchangeable search coils and a lifetime warranty. Plus I have the huge 18 X 3 inch Clean Sweep Coil for it which isn't made anymore. The Tiger Shark has a saltwater mode switch so salt isn't a problem at all.
I had a Beach Hunter ID but gave it to my brother in law because I didn't like the way the coil floated an I had to force it under. That got tiring. I understand you can order it with weighted coil for just water. Plus it can only be taken under 20 feet, an I dive too. But it was well made and I liked the three tone ID.
One feature the Excal has that is worth the extra $ is the iron mask. It ignores ground balance and iron so it will respond on a gold ring under a piece of iron. A Tiger can disc. out the iron and that's it. You never know about the ring. Even if you dig everything, the Excal still goes deeper which you need in the sifting sands at a coast.
HH,
Sandman