In all honesty, how deep do you think you go on underwater targets? In saltwater that is?

[ChuckDiggin it in Florida]

[attachment 17805 teststicks008.jpg][attachment 17805 teststicks008.jpg]I have hunted for years with an Excalibur and a CZ-20. I even had a modded Excal with a 15" WOT coil. I found things halfway to China, but came to believe, that in the wet sand, my disturbing them with a scoop, sunk them. I did tests with a 3 foot wide 3' deep plastic tub. I put fresk saltwater wet sand in it [that I brought home in 5 gal buckets in my truck] and with that control, I glued gold rings, nickels, dimes and a bunch of other things to a free wooden paint stick [i'm a painter] slit measured holes in the side of the tub, away from any interferance [in my vacant lot] and pushed the stick straight in from the sife. Rings fell between 4-8 inches, depending on weight etc and a dime was in the 7"-8" range.
Try that yourself. Or, another thing I use are these 2 wood dowels, which I carry in my truck all the time in a jug of saltwater, so they are waterlogged. 1 is an epoxied on nickel and one a 14kt wonam's ring, which I feel represents the common engagement ring "WITH DIAMONDS"!
These, I just take to the beach and push them straight down with my foot into the wet sand. The Excalibur will just hit both maybe an extra 1/2" deeper even, on a good day
Here are pictures of what I'm using now and have used for about 3 years. They hold up just fine!

 

[Joe Kononchik]

I do agree those depths are close as they are on a air test. But in the field as time goes on target will be found at better depth. You can not air test a target on a Excal more than a foot but I know I have dug quarters 16 and 18 inches. Even the Garrett 250 sees better in the ground then in the air. I taken targets with my Excal I just dug 16 inches and through them on the wet sand and could not get more then a foot out of them.The average depth on a deep 3 pennywieght gold ring is 10 inches in the wet sand. I have dug bigger gold deeper. I do not like saying how deep in the water because it is to hard to tell. I take note when I am wet sand hunting with little waves so the sand is hard and easy to dig without falling in.Just my thought,Joe A.K.A. HunterJoe

 

[ChuckDiggin it in Florida]

tTargets that have been in the ground for longer and longer periods of time, build a leached halo up, making the target appear larget to the detector. That's not the case out in salwater though. Those tagets move with the sand shits too often to build up a halo. My personal belief, after loads of tests, which I happen to very much enjoy doing, that in saltwater, you do well with a VLF to get air test depth. The multi frequency Minelabs do air test poorly [and I don't pretend to know why?] but I have not personally verified any of the great depths that are posted from time to time. I'm certainly not suggesting those detectorists, who say they got a gold ring at a foot or a dime at 14" are attempting to lie. It's possible that the wet salt sand they hunt intesifies the signal somehow? I have no clue how though? My S.W. Gulf beach Florida sand is not highly mineralized, nor is there any black sand to speak of. I just believe, that the secon you start sinking your scoop into the sand, water runs in the opening and the target starts dropping.
I did a test one time, that I think you might find interesting to try yourself. I took 4lb test fishing line [momo] marked it off in inches with a magic marker and tied on an average gold ring and laid it gently on the wet salt sand, right where the slightly lapping water went over it, every so often. Within a minute, it was 4 inches deep! In 5 minutes it was over 8 inches deep! TRY IT! Gold is heavy and wet sand offers little resistance. Again, this is just a discussion and i'm not saying i'm definately right and others are wrong. But, it's something to think about!
Chuck,Diggin it in Florida

 

[Joe Kononchik]

If the halo is broke then the target is like a fresh drop. Salt does inhance the field so we see things deepper. Over here we have no ground mineral so we go deep. You may have a little over there. What beach are you on? Another thing is you do not have the wave action we have over here so target may not sink as far before hitting a harder zone. Are the test done with a 8 or 10 inch coil? Like you said I am not saying I am right or wrong either but it is something to think about. Have you read the Fisher Intellegence report on Fisher website.Tom Danvosisky (I hope I got his name right) wrote a interesting book on detecting. I have to reread it for more info. Another thing which detector do you mostly use? I know you like to buy multi detector to test them to see which is better. Keep the testing up I like all info and am glad you share with all. We all learn by post good thought and info.Keep it up and I will try to do some test myself.Good hunting,Joe

 

[padigger]

Great post Chuck, I liked the part with the fishing line, now put those buckets of sand back on the beach elst they will be resanding the beach for you!

 

[ChuckDiggin it in Florida]

Salt does inhance the field so we see things deepper.<<<<<<<< I believe you are not correct. Moisture instead of dry ground, enhances a VLF signal. Wet salt sand increaces pulse induction depth [not vlf] wet salt is detrimental to VLF signals, it actually sees the wet salt as a minerial. That's why many detectors attempt to discriminate out the wet salt by adding a "BEACH MODE" = more preset low end disc and less starting point sensitivity, is what I believe those "BEACH MODES" are doing.>>>>>>>> Over here we have no ground mineral so we go deep.<<<<<<<< Where is that? >>>>>>>> You may have a little over there. What beach are you on?<<<<<<<< The nearest serious beach is in Sarasota Florida about 50 miles up the rd from me>>>>>>>> Another thing is you do not have the wave action we have over here so target may not sink as far before hitting a harder zone.<<<<<<<< The more wave action and current, the more tagets sink.>>>>>>>> Are the test done with a 8 or 10 inch coil? <<<<<<<< 8" with a CZ-20 and 10" with an Excalibur>>>>>>>> Like you said I am not saying I am right or wrong either but it is something to think about. Have you read the Fisher Intellegence report on Fisher website.Tom Danvosisky (I hope I got his name right) wrote a interesting book on detecting. I have to reread it for more info.<<<<<<<< Yes and it had considerable truth in it, but he was selling something for a manufacturer. When profit is involved, you usually get a combination of truth and hype=lies >>>>>>>> Another thing which detector do you mostly use?<<<<<<<< Underwater saltwater hunting, the only detectors that are even in the same ballpark, are the Excalibur and CZ-20. I have owned every underwater detector made, with the exception of the cheapies that look like the control box is a coffee can on Ebay and the exception of Eric Fosters' newest pulse induction creations & the Mr Gold machine. This discussion is about VLF though.>>>>>>>> I know you like to buy multi detector to test them to see which is better.<<<<<<<< I love doing that!! >>>>>>>> Keep the testing up I like all info and am glad you share with all. We all learn by post good thought and info.Keep it up and I will try to do some test myself.Good hunting,Joe<<<<<<<< Thanks Joe, that's what this and a similar post I made on land detecting on the Metal Detecting Forum are for. A reality check for us all. I have already gained some knowledge I didn't have before at the Metal Detecting forum from others and I hope to pass something factual on to others here and there. Thanks for contributing to my post!

 

[ChuckDiggin it in Florida]

Chucks Guld Beach Erosion down here! We have Hurricane Charlie for that!
They went back after about 3 days of testing-you wouldn't believe the stink that comes from the little living things in wet salt sand! YUK!