Newby Question

[DiveDetector]

Hey all!

I am a New Jersey scuba diver (I dive every 2 weeks, all year long for the last few years) and I have just recently decided to jump into this hobby.

I dont have a metal detector yet. I am currently in research mode. I dont know much about shopping for equipment so I am appealing to you fine people.

What metal detectors should I be looking for? What considerations am I looking for considering the following:

I plan on diving in both salt water and fresh water with my detector (No deeper than 120 feet).
I plan on using it on land too.
I am interested in coins, jewelry and relics.
I am budget conscious. I have done well on classifieds in buying my scuba gear and would love to do the same for metal detecting.
Would love to spend less than $800 for a nice quality device.

Again, any professional guidance or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Bryan

 

[comisoas]

This is just my opinion. After watching the forums and my experience with the Minelab GT (basically the land version of the Excallibur) at the beach (fantastic on salt beaches), the Minelab Excallibur II would be your best investment, but it retails around $1500. I think, hands down, this is the best water detector out there. Since you dive so often, I think you will be able to pay for the money invested in short order. Check out www.clivesgoldpage.com . He is a primo water hunter and you can ask him questions from his webpage. He has a wealth of water hunting experience and has written numerous books. When I retire in a few years, I hope to get hold of an Excallibur II and spend time in the water myself. Good luck!

 

[rottonr]

I don't know a lot about machines and saltwater hunting but from what I read whatever machine you get will need TLC care.
***A full rinsing every time when out of salt water and never go from hot (in the car, car trunk or direct sunlight) into cool or cold water.***

Just things I remember reading off the top of my head.

 

[Champ Ferguson]

Without a doubt you want an Excal for diving. There is no competitor at your dive depths.

If you want to use it on land too, you can (this guy is doing just that this summer and doing well: https://manaloneblog.wordpress.com/ )
But imo you want a dedicated land machine too. Start with the Excal and you can start learning what kind of land hunting you will do and features that will matter to you.

I think the CTX is the best all around but only waterproof to 10'.
I think the best value in a land machine is the Garrett ATP.

1 other thought: there are knockoffs of a lot of the good machines, so beware. top of the line detectors don't lose much of their value on the used market, especially if they still have some warranty left on them. give serious consideration to a new Excal- with proper care itll last a loooooong time.

 

[Champ Ferguson]

Ooo, 1 more. Manufacturers do not allow any price to be published other than MSRP so what you see advertised IS NOT the final price. Contact a couple of dealers you trust (or PM someone on the forum to get recommendations) and talk to them about what you want to do and what kind of prices they have. If they pressure you to Buy Now, scratch that dealer off your list. Theres a LOT of good dealers out there.

 

[Jim in MA]

Minelab Excalibur II or a CZ21
if you were going to wade a used would be ok to dive I would go new.
call dealers and do not get any free stuff Free is not FREE

 

[GeorgeinSC]

When I decided to purchase an Excalibur Ii I sent E-Mails to 5 dealers. Three of them replied. Two of them said call me. One of them sent me a price by E-Mail. I called the two and got their best price shipped and bought the machine from the Gentleman who quoted me a price in the E-Mail. He had the best deal by a long shot.

I always check with a minimum of 5 dealers when making a large purchase of detecting equipment. It pays to shop more than one dealer.

 

[Jim in MA]

When I decided to purchase an Excalibur Ii I sent E-Mails to 5 dealers. Three of them replied. Two of them said call me. One of them sent me a price by E-Mail. I called the two and got their best price shipped and bought the machine from the Gentleman who quoted me a price in the E-Mail. He had the best deal by a long shot.

I always check with a minimum of 5 dealers when making a large purchase of detecting equipment. It pays to shop more than one dealer.

[size=x-large]Excellent Excellent Excellent Advice[/size]

 

[tvr]

Either a CZ-21 or Excalibur should do well for you.

I'm not diving, but for me the CZ has needed less maintenance than the Excal. If you need to send off for repairs, Fisher has been doing a much better job on turn around time and customer service in general. I like the stock Fisher CZ-20 / 21 headphones better than the stock Excal headphones. I don't have the stock headphones on the Excalibur anymore, but my new headphones are not suitable for diving. You would probably need to stay with the stock headphones to dive.

Either one finds good targets at good target depth. CZ-21s can sometimes be found, used in decent shape, within you price range. I would be a little concerned about how a used detector would hold up under pressure, at dive depth, unless it was sent in for pressure check at the factory.

I like to have a spare handy, so I've got more than one detector, near enough to go get, if something happens with the one I started a hunt out with. That includes packing two or more detectors when I fly for a vacation.

Welcome aboard here!
tvr

 

[dewcon4414]

Ive had very good luck with used. I also preferred the Blue to the Xcal II. No ones mentioned a PI ..... and there is a reason for that. Both machines can be hip mounted and both machines can be used as an all around machine, but like was mentioned there are a lot of single freq machines just better suited for beach and dirt hunting that also come with a TID screen. I prefer the tubes over opening the box to charge the batteries........ at that depth to many chances of flooding. What i do is cut half that Xcal sticker off on one side so i can see inside the machine after every use.

Dew

 

[BootyHunter]

If you are
Going to be diving in saltwater, let me suggest the Garrett Seahunter Mark 2. It's $637 brand new and they are built like a tank. Never any issues with them and can dive to 200' with them. Especially as you are just getting into it. The Seahunter won't miss anything, even small gold. Also I have owned both and used both hookah diving and he Excalibur was much harder to hear over the regulator than the Seahunter. If you find you really love detecting and diving you can pay for an Excal with the finds you make with the Seahunter. Excels are nice, but the rechargeable battery system can be a pan, knobs can be a pain, The Seahunter is simple and reliable. Forget the "discrimination" the Seahunter touts, it's a pi but if you're diving it's easier and favorable to dig it all as you never know what is hiding under the sand and I never disc more than iron with any machine. Not much iron in the ocean. Just my honest opinion.

 

[lasergod]

Tesoro- Sand shark! is great for diving.