Help! Murky Water Pinpointing/Retrieving

[Anonymous]

Guys,I'm new to water detecting - first trip today with a CZ20. Soon realized I had a problem. With visibility about 1 foot and depth of 3-4 feet I couldn't see the loop. Pinpointed well enough but bottom of lake was mud/gravel combo and my round sand scoop wouldn't get into the "soil" very well. Did retrieve a few coins but left some good signals unfound.
Question: what is the best way to do precise pinpointing in these conditions (I'm thinking of buying a Vibro Probe) and what is the best way to retrieve? I figure I need to get a mask and snorkel, hold my breath, and just drop down in the water, pinpoint and dig. Is there a better way?
Lots of thanks for any ideas.
Jim

 

[Waterdog]

Jim when I get a hit in the water most of the time I can not even see past the top of the water. So what I do is move my coil from side to side going forwards till the signal goes away. Put my foot to the back of the coil. So I know the target is just under my foot. Then I put my sand scoop just in front of my foot, move my foot and pull the sand scoop down and too me. Sometimes it takes a few tries before you get it. Some people do this in the reverse direction.
HH
Chris

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Waterdog,
Do you think a Vibro Probe pinpointer would help? That thing is 14" long and waterproof to 30'. Sounds like it might help us. As for retrieving, I've seen at Home Depot a garden tool that digs round holes about 2 1/2" diameter. You push it into the ground and then squeeze a handle at the top that clamps the plug pulled out of the ground. Seems like you could empty that plug into a wire basket or something to see what you had. Well, just trying to think of all the angles and "how to's" that might help.
Have you found any particular water depth to be better for lost items. I was out at a park beach and found coins all within 15 feet of some steps going into the water - depth about 3-4'. Any further suggestions much appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[Waterdog]

I like to look within the first few feet. Sometimes people like to go out and sit in the water, drinking a cool one. Sometimes a Mom or Dad or even a Grandparent will come out to the waters edge putting Sunscreen on the little ones. While putting sunscreen on the Little one, they will get the sunscreen in between themselves and their rings. Just like Oil, it makes the rings come off easier.
Other times you see people out in about four to five feet of water playing.Look to see what type of Jewrely they have on. Often times when they come out of the water it is gone.
Then comes along someone with a metal detector. Sometimes they will ask you to find it for a small reward. But often times they are gone and you have yet another ring.

 

[Waterdog]

n/t

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim,

I find my targets the same way Waterdog described in his reply and it works fine. I use a curved scoop that used to be called the "Miller Scoop". Try this link.

http://www.dalynenterprises.com/scooppageone.html

The one I use is the Shark Water Scoop. The scoop takes alittle getting used to but it works great in the water.

HH Mike

 

[Doc Poole]

n/t

 

[Gord SW Ont]

I don't think a Vibraprobe would help much if the water is deeper than about a foot if you are shallow water wading. It might help some if you're diving. Don't forget that it will only respond to an inch or so ... and while it works great on land the shifting sand makes retreival pretty difficult sometimes. The method mentioned above (re foot behind coil and then put a long handle water scoop in front of foot) is about the most popular used. Note that you may have to pinpiont and scoop a number of times to get your target.

I don't think those tube soil retractors would work very well on sand (even compact wet sand). The scoops build especially for metal detecting are about the best there is - although some like shovels ... sometimes with a floating screen. Sand is "very" fluid and wouldn't retain it's shape for those tube retractors to work properly imho.

One other thing to note is that the scoops with holes work better in the water while in dry sand the screened scoops seem to work better.

Also I have rigged up a quarter inch screen insert which I sometimes use in my 5/8th inch holed scoop to prevent small stuff from going through (it can be rough if your target constantly falls through after you have it in your scoop).

HH ... Gord SW Ont.

 

[Anonymous]

LOTS of thanks guys. I'm trying to head out in the next few days to the swimming area of an old Boy Scout Camp. Have found some silver there (land) now will try the swimming hole with all your suggestions and equipment ideas. Actually, I don't think boy scounts would wear much jewelry! but there were a lot of adults there over the years it was in operation and I'm sure the place has never been water hunted - has the makings of a decently good hunt. We'll see! Will report any good news.
Jim

 

[John (west central FL)]

I have had the same problem when using the CZ-20. The Excalibur is much easier to pinpoint with. With the CZ-20 I have found that I have to use the pinpoint button if I can't see the coil. If you hit the pinpoint button while the coil is near the target it will detune it and narrow the response. You mentioned the Vibra Probe. I used one with my CZ-20 once and it interfered big time. You have to wait until the probe turns itself off before you can resume detecting with the CZ-20. ~John

 

[Joe G]

n/t

 

[Bottomfeeder]

I center the coil over the signal, then I put my left foot up against the coil at the six oclock position.
THEN CAREFULLY lower your scoop in front of your foot, put the tip of the scoop right in front of your big toe, CAREFUL!!! You'll cut yourself if you jam it down, feel your way.
My secret for centering on the signal is once I'm in position, I sight on something, a rock, a tree, whatever, and push the scoop down-forward-then lift back up. Aim your scoop push towards whatever you are sighting in on. HH.

 

[charliediller]

dont chop yo toes off,,r wear toe rangs where u can find them,,,,its easy,,,,,,,,,,cs