Top brands and models

Nathan-Drake0075 · Sep 3, 2018

Hi everyone! I'm looking to get a new metal detector and possibly a pointer as well, any suggestions for brands and models? It also needs to be able to go under water. Can I look for one that I can go scuba diving with, and use that for surface metal detecting too? Or would I need to get 2 different ones? Thanks your all your advice in advance!

Happy hunting!

dts52 · Sep 3, 2018

Hello, ND0075.

I'm no expert but in my limited experience, an underwater detector such as an Excal would not be the best choice for dry land detecting. Most dry land detectors AT - Nox, etc are good for no more than 10' depth, more suitable for wading or maybe snorkelling depths, but not SCUBA depths. I'll let the experts chime in but I think you are going to need two machines. Best of luck.
HH
dts

Nathan-Drake0075 · Sep 3, 2018

Thank you Dts! It is much appreciated! What land detector do you use?

A2coins · Sep 3, 2018

I like the garrett at easy to use great for land can go up to 10 feet in the water very easy to use . If your just doing water there are more water specific machines. good luck you will hear a lot of apinions.

cudamark · Sep 3, 2018

If you're going to go deeper than 10 feet underwater, you'll want at least two machines. If it's going to be salt water, get a multifrequency machine. Single frequency machines like the AT series don't do well in that environment. If you want or need discrimination, The Excalibur would be my pick. The Fisher CZ21 is another good one. If it's just shallow water use, the Minelab Equinox is the best deal out there right now. It's also an excellent land machine.

dts52 · Sep 5, 2018

Nathan-Drake0075 said:
Thank you Dts! It is much appreciated! What land detector do you use?

I have an AT Pro and recently got a Nox800, which I haven't tried at the salt beach yet, but hope to soon. The Nox has a much longer learning curve than the Pro, but the Pro is VERY limited in a salt environment. For anyone just starting, I would strongly recommend the AT Pro or the AT Max.
Good luck!
dts

Nathan-Drake0075 · Sep 5, 2018

Ooh ok great!! Thanks for the input!

Rookster · Sep 5, 2018

Whatever machine you buy,make Tnet you go to imfo place. The forum is a great place to learn the machine settings etc. YouTube isn't bad either but time with the machine is invaluable. Lots of luck.

Nathan-Drake0075 · Sep 5, 2018

Thank you so much for that suggestion!

cudamark · Sep 5, 2018

dts52 said:
I have an AT Pro and recently got a Nox800, which I haven't tried at the salt beach yet, but hope to soon. The Nox has a much longer learning curve than the Pro, but the Pro is VERY limited in a salt environment. For anyone just starting, I would strongly recommend the AT Pro or the AT Max.
Good luck!
dts

IMO, the Equinox is a better machine than the AT series in every category, except for variety of coil and accessory choices.....which should change in the near future.

A2coins · Sep 5, 2018

I have both the max is deeper more solid signals easier to use

dts52 · Sep 6, 2018

cudamark said:
IMO, the Equinox is a better machine than the AT series in every category, except for variety of coil and accessory choices.....which should change in the near future.

I understand that the Nox is considered by many to be a "better" machine, but in terms of a learning curve (directly proportional to the user's frustration with the machine) I recommend the AT series for general use. I wish I had the hours and hours to invest in this hobby, but like many of us TNers, my time is pretty limited. Plus my being tone deaf (or so I am told) limits me. JMHO - not looking to start one of those Ford vs. Chevy type dialogs.
HH
dts

TideSweeper · Sep 6, 2018

Use to own an Excal 1000.
Excellent salt beach machine, took it diving in lake Travis (Austin,Tx) a few times as well.
The Excal ii wont disappoint if ya have 1.5k in funds laying around. I miss my 1000 and regret selling it.

I live on the coast, so do mostly salt beach and like the MineLab multi frequency units vs single frequency PI units.
I've been looking at a ML Equinox 600 as an all purpose shallow water/land/beach unit.
just my .02

cudamark · Sep 6, 2018

A2coins said:
I have both the max is deeper more solid signals easier to use

Not in salt water/wet sand it isn't.

devldog · Sep 6, 2018

Nathan, Rook beat me to the punch. If I can suggest, go to Utube. This is a great reference and shopping tool for MD's. There are videos available for almost every make and model out today. You can enter water, land, or both land and water MD's and you can see these detectors in use and learn a lot of general information on these. Just to name a few are the Garrett AT series: The AT PRO, the AT Gold, and the new AT Max. Minelab has many, but for land and water are the CTX 3030, and the new Equinox models 600 and 800. and Whites has the MX Sport. These are to name but a few, but it may give you some sort of an idea. Best of luck to you and just take your time and do the research and you will choose the right detector for yourself.

cudamark · Sep 6, 2018

devldog said:
Nathan, Rook beat me to the punch. If I can suggest, go to Utube. This is a great reference and shopping tool for MD's. There are videos available for almost every make and model out today. You can enter water, land, or both land and water MD's and you can see these detectors in use and learn a lot of general information on these. Just to name a few are the Garrett AT series: The AT PRO, the AT Gold, and the new AT Max. Minelab has many, but for land and water are the CTX 3030, and the new Equinox models 600 and 800. and Whites has the MX Sport. These are to name but a few, but it may give you some sort of an idea. Best of luck to you and just take your time and do the research and you will choose the right detector for yourself.

If you're going to use them in a salt water environment, only the Minelabs (of the detectors mentioned) will perform at a top level. The other have to be turned down quite a bit to get them stable, thus reducing depth.

dirtyJohn · Sep 14, 2018

For scuba diving in saltwater the excals and cz21's are best and can be used on land and are excellent in fresh water. For freshwater scuba diving the Tesoro Tiger Shark is waterproof to 200+ ft and is very sensitive. They are all a little heavy though for land hunting. I got a pluggers straight shaft for my Tiger Shark and it puts the box behind my elbow so i can hunt the dry and land hunt with no arm fatigue.
HH
John

RustyGold · Sep 15, 2018

I’d get a dedicated dive detector for diving and for sand, land and shallow water hunting add the Equinox 600 or 800.
I found the Equinox 800 the easiest detector to learn so far. It just seem to click for me.

Previous detectors 3 AT Pros, Dual Surf PI, 2 Excalibur IIs, 2 Sovereign GTs, Explorer SE and 2 CTX 3030s and I’m more at home with the Equinox than I was with any of the above detectors.
I do love the XP’s Deus as well.
Good luck!

Alpha137 · Sep 15, 2018

dts52 said:
I understand that the Nox is considered by many to be a "better" machine, but in terms of a learning curve (directly proportional to the user's frustration with the machine) I recommend the AT series for general use. I wish I had the hours and hours to invest in this hobby, but like many of us TNers, my time is pretty limited. Plus my being tone deaf (or so I am told) limits me. JMHO - not looking to start one of those Ford vs. Chevy type dialogs.
HH
dts

I did not find the learning curve of the NOX long at all. If a person wants to it is a turn on and go machine. Of course one gets better with it with use, but the factory settings are good and just a basic understanding of sensitivity, ground balance, noise cancel, and when to use all metal, is all that is needed. And really an understanding of those things are needed for any machine. A true novice could be handed a NOX and told go to park 1 and they will find stuff with ease. I am not saying one is better than the other, just that the idea of the NOX being too complex for a novice is just way wrong. With that said, once a person does start to understand it and it's functions then they truly can start to figure out the power of the machine and multi-frequency. Also, someone stated above that the AT is deeper and that is so not true. I am not discounting someones experience, but I have seen the exact opposite numerous times and have to wonder how it is being used if they think the AT goes deeper than the NOX.

RustyGold · Sep 15, 2018

Alpha137 said:
I did not find the learning curve of the NOX long at all. If a person wants to it is a turn on and go machine. Of course one gets better with it with use, but the factory settings are good and just a basic understanding of sensitivity, ground balance, noise cancel, and when to use all metal, is all that is needed. And really an understanding of those things are needed for any machine. A true novice could be handed a NOX and told go to park 1 and they will find stuff with ease. I am not saying one is better than the other, just that the idea of the NOX being too complex for a novice is just way wrong. With that said, once a person does start to understand it and it's functions then they truly can start to figure out the power of the machine and multi-frequency. Also, someone stated above that the AT is deeper and that is so not true. I am not discounting someones experience, but I have seen the exact opposite numerous times and have to wonder how it is being used if they think the AT goes deeper than the NOX.

I agree!