which salt water metal detector is the best?

lou423 · Mar 17, 2006

I use a Tesoro Sand Shark to metal detect in the surf...
I am not satisfied with that detector... :'(

I can not keep it on the bottom, the tip is too flimsy plus everytime I touch something it beeps. It is good on wet sand though.
I would like to read about the experiences with metal detectors used in salt water beaches in the surf....If anyone can recommend a good solid, stable surf detector , I would appreciate whatever information I could get...Lou

rsc · Mar 20, 2007

Fisher CZ20 if you can find one. HH Gayle

finderzzs · Jun 18, 2007

Let me just give you my 2 cents. I've been using the White's PI Pro. It has found alot of gold/silver & platinum. But it drives me nuts! It beeps if you bump something, it beeps if a wave passes over. it beeps if you lift it up a hair. It goes nuts while I'm digging a target in the surf. Lets just say there's alot of cursing going on, but it does what it's supposed to, find the good stuff. But I'm going to find a different primary machine. I'm in Hawaii where the surf is nasty, when I was in Florida this worked much better. Don't know if this helps at all.

Slugrusher · Oct 13, 2010

This post is a good

I've only been here for roughly a week. Like many I always thought about MD as something to fill my time.

I live in South Florida and had thought about the Garrett's, since they are fully submersible. Well turns out
(yesterday) my boat became a sub. It's an inflatable (bottom too) the keel tore away from the tubes just
under the bow. Hopefully repairable.

Anyhow...What is the BEST detector under say $800 for the surf, beach and underwater of a max 10 feet.

I was sold on the Garrett. But I got to thinking I have a Garrett at my disposal whenever I need it.

So for SHALLOW surf, beach and the local parks. What is a good choice?

I've read so much I'm just overwhelmed now.

gollum · Oct 13, 2010

rsc said:
Fisher CZ20 if you can find one. HH Gayle

Yeah. If you can get Fisher Lab's Customer Service from 20 years ago to go with it. They SUCK!

Just look at different surf and sand hunting forums and you will see beyond a shadow of ANY doubt that Minelab Excalibur Rules. You can dive with it, then reconfigure it for beach hunting. When it comes to surf/beach hunting I have used nothing but Excalibur since about 1997.

Best-Mike