Overview
So you want to go metal detecting at the beach and are unsure which detector to purchase? Only some metal detectors actually perform well at the beach – a majority of them are unable to handle saltwater’s high mineralization. In this article, we will be teaching you what things to look for and provide you with assistance on how to select the best beach detector that suits your budget.
If you are serious about metal detecting and want to search at the beach as well on land and in freshwater it makes sense to buy two different metal detectors. One for the beach and one for everywhere else. It is possible to get a single detector that will work well just about anywhere but it will cost at least $1,500 and maybe as high as $7-$8,000. Unless you have made a major find that price point is just too high.
However, first of all, here a sneak peek at my six highly recommended beach detectors:
Buyer’s Guide: 6 Best Metal Detectors To Use At A Saltwater Beach
back to menu ↑Metal Detector Technology
Picking the right metal detector for the beach all comes down to the detector’s design and technology. A majority of detectors are single frequency machines that are designed for general hunting on land.
Very Low Frequency
A VLF Machine is not able to handle saltwater, end of story. The high mineralization wreaks havoc with the unit and it can not pick metal out from the surrounding minerals.
Pulse Induction (PI)
Pulse Induction metal detectors are designed to handle the high mineralization due to saltwater and work well at the beach. PI metal detectors can not discriminate between types of metal making them difficult to use effectively in other environments.
Multi-Frequency
Basically, this type of detector transmits multiple frequencies at the same time which are able to penetrate minerals such as salt, give a target ID that is more accurate, and provide you with better depth.
Their feel and look are similar to single frequency machines; but no matter how you slice it, their technology is far superior (and not only for beach hunting). But MF metal detectors are much more expensive than the other technologies.
back to menu ↑Which Is Better Technology?
There is no best metal detector, only the one that works best for you. If you are only going to go treasure hunting at the beach, then a PI machine makes more sense. You can always purchase a VLF machine for other types of ground.
If you have space considerations and have the money, a MF metal detector is the way to go. It will work just about anywhere and find any type of metal in the ground. The cheapest MF unit will cost 50%-100% more than a VLF detector and a PI detector combined.
After you have selected the technology you would like to use, then there are a few other features to choose from:
back to menu ↑Submersible, Water-Resistant, or Waterproof?
It is a risky proposition to take a metal detector that is not 100% to the beach. 99.9% of metal detectors have submersible, waterproof coils. However, the other parts of the detector (the control box mainly), are not even water resistant, and therefore you cannot use them underwater. If you put your unit down on wet sand, if a big wave comes in, if someone spills a bucket of water, if any moisture gets into the control box the metal detector is fried.
It is better to be cautious and only use a 100% waterproof detector at the beach.
Coil Size
Large Coils a cover more area and penetrate the ground deeper. They are heavier and have increased drag when used in water.
Small coils cover a smaller area and work closer to the surface. They are lighter and move through the water more easily.
Which is best? Once again it is a matter of choice. Larger coils will sweep an area faster but might miss an item smaller coils would have detected. The best bet is to start with the stock coils and upgrade if necessary.
back to menu ↑Best Beach Metal Detector Recommendations
So let’s discuss the pros and cons of my recommended detectors now that have some of the basics covered.
Tesoro Sand Shark
This model is for you if you are searching for an affordable true salt water beach detector. It is a type of Pulse Induction detector and the least expensive specialty beach machine available in the marketplace.
- Superior battery life
- Lifetime warranty
- Least expensive beach machine
- Cannot change headphones or coil (unless it is sent to the factory)
- Heavy
Check Price of Tesoro Sand Shark
Minelab CTX 3030
The CTX is the perfect machine for using the same detector to hunt on both sea and land. This multi-frequency detector works great for any metal in any environment, but you are going to have to pay for the advanced features.
- Digital Target ID
- LCD display
- Many coils available
- Don’t need to purchase a separate land machine
- Superior target ID and discrimination
- Cannot use for diving
- Very Expensive
Check Price of Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Excalibur II
Another highly versatile metal detector from Minelab that works well in almost any environment, but is also very expensive.
- Very accurate tone ID
- Multi-frequency machine that may be used for diving as well
- Excellent iron discrimination
- No tone on faint, deep signals. Threshold change only.
- An additional kit is required to hip mount.
- Hardwired headphones
- You can miss good targets due to iron null delay
- Very Expensive
Check Price of Minelab Excalibur II
Fisher CZ-21
Not as expensive as the Minelabs, the Fisher CZ-21 boasts a series of advanced features making it perfect for beach hunting and diving.
- Clear tone on faint, deep signals
- Easy to hip mount
- Pinpoint button
- Audio boost mode
- Fast response time
- Concentric coil
- No threshold adjustment
Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II
A quality beach and diving machine from Garrett that comes with an impressive array of features.
- Pulse Delay for use on heavy iron beaches
- The battery compartment is independently sealed
- Large 10×14 accessory coil
- Interchangeable headphones and coils
- There is no volume control included
Accessories
Let’s discuss some accessories to consider now that you have a better understanding of the detector that you want to buy.
Sand Scoop – If you are only going to purchase one accessory to use for beach hunting, buy a good quality scoop.
There really is no such thing as a ‘best scoop,’ however, the following are some things that you might want to consider:
- No handle (very short handle) vs. short handle vs. long handle: The shorter the handle, the more you will have to bend over to dig up your finds. The longer the handle, the heavier your scoop becomes and more awkward to carry. You should experiment with different models to see which suits you best.
- Type of metal: Aluminium or stainless steel are the most durable options. Try to avoid plastic models.
- Build quality: Some sand scoops are of a lighter design, made for digging on dry sand. Others have a heavier design for wet sand. It is probably best to get a heavier design that will work well in any type of sand.
The duty long-handled RTG aluminum scoop is a great option for wet and dry sand. It will also help keep your knees and back pain-free.
Headphones – Waterproof, quality headphones are very important to have on the beach since you will need to have the ability to noise-cancel the crashing waves and wind in order to heart faint signals.
Also, usually these weak signals are exactly the ones you are looking for since likely other detectorists have missed due to buying their detectors before they read this article.
Just make sure to get waterproof headphone. Just because you purchase a fully submersible machine such as the Garrett AT Pro, doesn’t mean the headphones are waterproof as well.
Mesh Pouch – A mesh finds pouch is an absolute must if you are going to be doing any wading. It prevents your pouch from filling up with water and washing your finds out. Just make sure to buy a quality pouch that has tiny holes so that your finds don’t fall out of your pouch.
Shoulder or Chest Harness – As discussed above, you will definitely want to use a chest harness if you are going to be using a large coil and spending more than one hour on the beach. Your shoulder will definitely thank you for it.
Pinpointer – A pinpointer actually isn’t as valuable for beach detecting as on land (if a sand scoop is being used). It’s the most important accessory of all for land hunting. However, it isn’t a big deal to have two digging scoops rather than one. The only time that a pinpointer will need to be used is on a smaller target such as earrings that might slip through your scoop’s holes.
back to menu ↑Conclusion
Metal Detectors optimized for saltwater beach hunting are highly specialized machines. You want to make sure the detector is completely waterproof, not weatherproof or only a waterproof coil. Upgrading to a Pulse Induction or Multi-Frequency detector will work much better on the high mineralization from the salt water. A metal sand scoop will maximize the time spent detecting and save your knees and back.
Any metal detector will work on the beach, but models designed specifically for the beach will work much better. If you just want to go metal detecting at the beach a couple of time a year while you are on your summer vacation, it might not make sense to purchase a dedicated beach machine.
Find the right detector, then find your treasure!
