What is the best underwater detector to find gold and silver coins and rings?

[OBXmetalDet]

My Nokta PulseDive Underwater Metal Detector failed on me after going into the water (and not even using it). When I came back on land, although I could turn it on, I couldn't detect metal. Maybe some water got into it.

I'm looking for something that is handheld so about 15" long.

I would be diving right off the shore/beach in relatively shallow, but it would be good to have the ability to go much deeper in case I ever decide to boat dive.

Can anybody recommend anything?

 

[Sand Swinger]

Each tone has a target ID right? Instead of listening to tones, couldn't you just look at the target ID?

The Excal's & Sovereigns use All Tones in discrim mode, i.e., different audio tones/pitches to help identify a targets potential ID. In all-metal/pinpoint mode, it's just 1 tone. There's no target ID screen on an Excal or a Sovereign, although there was a separate Target ID meter that was available for the Sovereign but wasn't waterproof so can't be used with the Excal. I have one, never used it, but I've been thinking about doing the 180 mod and using it with my Sov. The stock meter was called a 550. Targets would register a number between 1 and 550, so that many numbers made it hard to remember what numbers various targets show up as. So, the 180 mod changes the meter to read between 1 and 180, so a lot less numbers to deal with.

That's why I said it takes time to get proficient with the Excal's & Sovereigns, if you're going to be using the detector in discrim mode, learning and associating all the various tone pitches with the targets they represent takes time & lots of digging. They're not the type of detectors I'd recommend to a total newbie, they're a different animal with their own language. If you're currently running a NOX 800, you'd have a leg up, as you could change your audio to hear "All Tones" if the 800 offers that. That will give you a glimpse of what you'll be hearing with an Excal/Sovereign. They're more along the serious detectorist side of detecting. But once you hear what gold sounds like (low tone), you'll know it the next time you hear it, and when you hear the high-pitched tone of silver, you'll know that as well. That said, there are some trash targets that may "mimic" the tones/pitches of good targets, so it just takes time and experience to hear and be able to decipher the nuances of the audio tones. They're not the type of detectors you'll master overnight.

 

[cudamark]

I have to disagree on the Excal being difficult to learn for a beginner (or anyone for that matter) It's basically a turn-on and go machine that has discrimination. You just run it flat out as hot as possible. Turn the Discrimination down as low as it goes, turn the Sensitivity to Auto, or, just off Auto, turn volume up a high as it goes, Set the Threshold wherever it's comfortable, and hunt in Pin Point. Get a target, turn Pin Point to Discrimination to see if it's iron. If it nulls, move on to the next target. If it still repeats as good target, or, if the target disappears, start digging/scooping. No need to do any more fiddling with the knobs than the switch from Pin Point to Discrimination. With the Disc/PP button switched to the handle, it's even quicker and easier.

 

[Sand Swinger]

I have to disagree on the Excal being difficult to learn for a beginner (or anyone for that matter) It's basically a turn-on and go machine that has discrimination. You just run it flat out as hot as possible. Turn the Discrimination down as low as it goes, turn the Sensitivity to Auto, or, just off Auto, turn volume up a high as it goes, Set the Threshold wherever it's comfortable, and hunt in Pin Point. Get a target, turn Pin Point to Discrimination to see if it's iron. If it nulls, move on to the next target. If it still repeats as good target, or, if the target disappears, start digging/scooping. No need to do any more fiddling with the knobs than the switch from Pin Point to Discrimination. With the Disc/PP button switched to the handle, it's even quicker and easier.

I agree that they're simple to operate for some, especially for us beep & dig guys who prefer twisting knobs. I set my Sov up and don't touch the knobs the rest of the hunt, unless I need to adjust sensitivity when moving from the dry to the wet, or sweeping the coil under saltwater or over black sand, and also when I need to switch to change discrim to all metal. But for someone coming from using a NOX, if that's the only detector they've ever used and have experience with, they're coming from a detector that basically handles everything automatically for them via software.

When I was a teen, I had a 69' Ford Mustang, Manual stick shift. I could go from that to driving an automatic with no problem. But take a guy who has only driven a car with an automatic transmission and pop them into a car with stick shift, there's gonna be a learning curve. The point I was trying to make is that it takes time and lots of digging to learn all the various tones/pitches when hunting in discrim mode, if they want to have at least an audio form of target ID. I have the option on my Sov Elite to use either fixed tones or variable tones when in Discrim mode, but if I'm gonna use fixed tones in Discrim, I might as well just hunt in all metal, as I'd be removing the audio feature that helps me determine what a target might be, or at least if they're a low, medium, high level of conductivity. All just depends on what a guy is used to & coming from when he picks up a Sov or Excal.

 

[cudamark]

I agree that they're simple to operate for some, especially for us beep & dig guys who prefer twisting knobs. I set my Sov up and don't touch the knobs the rest of the hunt, unless I need to adjust sensitivity when moving from the dry to the wet, or sweeping the coil under saltwater or over black sand, and also when I need to switch to change discrim to all metal. But for someone coming from using a NOX, if that's the only detector they've ever used and have experience with, they're coming from a detector that basically handles everything automatically for them via software.

When I was a teen, I had a 69' Ford Mustang, Manual stick shift. I could go from that to driving an automatic with no problem. But take a guy who has only driven a car with an automatic transmission and pop them into a car with stick shift, there's gonna be a learning curve. The point I was trying to make is that it takes time and lots of digging to learn all the various tones/pitches when hunting in discrim mode, if they want to have at least an audio form of target ID. I have the option on my Sov Elite to use either fixed tones or variable tones when in Discrim mode, but if I'm gonna use fixed tones in Discrim, I might as well just hunt in all metal, as I'd be removing the audio feature that helps me determine what a target might be, or at least if they're a low, medium, high level of conductivity. All just depends on what a guy is used to & coming from when he picks up a Sov or Excal.

Like I mentioned, you don't hunt in discrimination with an Excal. You hunt in Pin Point (all metal) and only use the Discrimination switch to test for iron. If it isn't iron, you should be digging it. Gold can read anywhere on the non-ferrous scale. The tone I.D. in Discrimination may be fun to use playing the "name that tune" game, but, really doesn't decide what you should be digging at the beach. Now, using it in a park is another story.

 

[Sand Swinger]

Like I mentioned, you don't hunt in discrimination with an Excal. You hunt in Pin Point (all metal) and only use the Discrimination switch to test for iron. If it isn't iron, you should be digging it. Gold can read anywhere on the non-ferrous scale. The tone I.D. in Discrimination may be fun to use playing the "name that tune" game, but, really doesn't decide what you should be digging at the beach. Now, using it in a park is another story.

Good point CM. I started off using my Sovereign 14 years ago in discrim mode so that I could learn the tones. Probably 2 years later I switched to hunting in all-metal, then switching back to discrim to see if target may be iron, mainly on the wet and shallow water. There's also been times where I've felt lazy and decided to hit the dry in discrim. I wired up a button on my grip many years ago so I could switch between all-metal and discrim, but it wasn't waterproof, and one day hunting the shallows, must have gotten hit by some spray and was no more. It was a lot more convenient with the grip mounted button. I might look into making another, but now I have a dual field PI and X-Terra Elite, so they'll be getting more use out on the beach with no worry about getting damaged by water.

 

[CapnGeorge]

My Nokta PulseDive Underwater Metal Detector failed on me after going into the water (and not even using it). When I came back on land, although I could turn it on, I couldn't detect metal. Maybe some water got into it.

I'm looking for something that is handheld so about 15" long.

I would be diving right off the shore/beach in relatively shallow, but it would be good to have the ability to go much deeper in case I ever decide to boat dive.

Can anybody recommend anything?

I have been using the Whites Surfmaster for 30 years and over 300 rings underwater,it's brilliant, just two controls - Sensitivity and Reject, ignores the junk and finds the gold.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

I have been using the Whites Surfmaster for 30 years and over 300 rings underwater,it's brilliant, just two controls - Sensitivity and Reject, ignores the junk and finds the gold.

I thought Whites was out of business. I think do ebody posted that on another thread.

 

[Sand Swinger]

I thought Whites was out of business. I think do ebody posted that on another thread.

White's went out of business about 5 years ago. Their patents, designs, intellectual assets, were purchased by Garrett.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

Where can I buy an after-market charger for Excalibur II? Is it true that they can charge the Excalibur II up to maximum capacity without overcharging it? Please post a link if possible.

 

[cudamark]

I've never had an overcharge problem with the stock charger. That said, I also have the RNB battery and it's charger. Much better system with 3-4 times the battery life.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

I've never had an overcharge problem with the stock charger. That said, I also have the RNB battery and it's charger. Much better system with 3-4 times the battery life.

For the RNB battery, can you send a link for that one? 3-4 times the battery life compared to the stock battery is quite a bit.

The Minelab site says, "NiMH rechargeable battery pack provides 14 to 19 hours of operation." How long does the RNB battery last?

 

[OBXmetalDet]

I know there are various after-market accessories for the Excalibur like a hip mount, extra knobs, a guard to protect the knobs, etc. What is the best website to buy these accessories?

Also, I can't find coil stiffeners and arm bands for the Excalibur II. Are there any websites that make these?

 

[cudamark]

I got some good knobs at a local electronics store. No need for the guard after that. My hip mount came with the detector, but, I believe Anderson makes them and Steve's Detecting Rods probably does too. Doesn't hurt to check Ebay too.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

I got some good knobs at a local electronics store. No need for the guard after that. My hip mount came with the detector, but, I believe Anderson makes them and Steve's Detecting Rods probably does too. Doesn't hurt to check Ebay too.

Are these the aftermarket knobs that you got?

 

[surfnturf]

Since I've been detecting, the only thing I've managed to find at the beach is bad luck. I don't know what people are doing different from me, but I've hunted in the water, at the surf line, in the hard-packed sand, and the loose sand and have yet to find any gold or silver in any form. It gets pretty discouraging sometimes, bringing home nothing but bottle caps and foil all the time.

Crunchyhippo AKA Charley Brown!🙄
Don’t give up it took me one whole year before I found my first gold ring…….. but then again I was using a white prism III 😭🏴‍☠️

 

[OBXmetalDet]

Since I've been detecting, the only thing I've managed to find at the beach is bad luck. I don't know what people are doing different from me, but I've hunted in the water, at the surf line, in the hard-packed sand, and the loose sand and have yet to find any gold or silver in any form. It gets pretty discouraging sometimes, bringing home nothing but bottle caps and foil all the time.

If you're using an Equinox 800 on the beach, see this. This helped me a lot.

 

[Crunchyhippo]

If you're using an Equinox 800 on the beach, see this. This helped me a lot.

I have a Minelab Manticore.

 

[Crunchyhippo]

One of my better yrs

View attachment 2211778

Geez, that makes hunting at Clearwater Beach look like hunting in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

What are the ideal beach settings for the Excalibur II?

Any videos?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Every beach is different with the salt mineralization so not unusual to use different levels of sensitivity on different beaches or even same beach sometimes so never hurts to retune it.

Generally set your threshold so it is like a tiny mosquito in your ear.

No discrimination above a 2/3, remember the Excalibur nulls on iron so ignore nulls unless you are bored.

Volume at max, you want to be able to hear the faint deep signals, which is why you want very faint threshold so it doesnt mask the signal yet you want to still hear the threshold because breaks in thresholds are important. A very deep target may only break threshold but give you no tone.

Set sensitivity as hot as possible and it still be stable, sensitivity will change with different beaches, there is no one sensitivity setting for all beaches.

Keep in mind excalibur is deeper in all metal than discrimination, so it will see targets in all metal it want see in discrimination until you remove some sand. If you find target in all metal and switch to desc and you have no signal, remove sand until detector responds in desc, if it nulls move on. If it nulls but gives you scratchy signal too then there are 2 targets, one is ferrous and one is not so check them out.