What is the best choice for an Underwater PI, surf to 20' depth?

[bdahunter]

Hi All:

I have an Excalibur 1000 that I use to find jewellery in the waters around Bermuda. I also come across a lot of relic type items as these waters have seen visitors since the 1500's. What I'm looking for is a top notch PI unit for searching the waters around this island for relics. The Excalibur is good to a point for ferrous items but much better for non-ferrous.
I would need something with a good deal of punch to it, fully submersible and hand held but with the possibility to be towable behind a small boat. Under $3,000 would be preferred.
Your thoughts both positive and negative are appreciated.

Cheers,

BDA

 

[Black Davy]

BDA,

I am a Garrett Infinium LS owner for a few months now and love it. $1000.00 bucks gets you a top notch detector. It works great in highly mineralized areas and ignors hot rocks. It's Lo-Hi and Hi-Lo tone system tell you if its ferrous or non ferrous. I also have a VLF HH Diver, but do not own the HH Pulse unit those are nice also. You can get those from Mr. Bill and they are a few hundred less.

Good Luck.

 

[bdahunter]

Thanks Davy! I've tried the Infinium and found it hard to get a feel for it. Kind of like screeching in my ears and no way to pinpoint. The mate who gave me a spin with it may not have had it set up right though as he had just got it a week earlier.

Appreciate the response,

BDA

 

[Black Davy]

I picked up more tips on useing this machine before I even purchased it from the Infinium forum. The keys are ground balance and keeping the coil wire tight to the shaft. I use it and it is extremely quite and powerfull. It has many adjustments and is not for a user who purchases it and thinks it can be turned on and used.

Comments such as yours made me research the Infinium and read about it for about five months before I made my purchase. I found this machine extremely quiet if I want it to have more threshold than you can make it noisy. Most of the false signals come from the coil wire not being secure and run tight to the shaft. Pinpointing is the same as most any machine. If you hit a target it may give a hi-lo-hi reading, you go back on the back sweep to the lo tone and work the heel or toe of the coil forward or backward in tine (less than a inch) this keeps the tone solid until it goes away and you are pinpointed.

Oh well if it's not for you no problem there are loads of good units out there, but I love my Infinium.

Good Luck.

 

[bdahunter]

I am curious about it but I also warned my mate to do his research before jumping in with both feet. I have heard good things about this machine from people who took the time to learn it. The detractors seem to be people who want a turn on a go sort of deal.

Good Hunting,

BDA

 

[gatorguy]

The Infinium has to be ground balanced properly to be quiet. There is forum in Australia that gives good info on Infinium, don't remember name, put "Infinium forum Australia" in search engine and see if it pulls up. Also, look on "Alaska gold forum", Steve H. has used one alot and used one in Hawaii in water, can probbably give you good info. Don

 

[Black Davy]

gatorguy,

You are right the sit is:


This is were I read up on the Infinium and then made my choice. After reading the tips I was way ahead of the learning curve. I was able to turn on this machine and use it pretty easy. There is still a learning curve as you need to hone your pin pointing skills. bdahunter if your buddy still has his unit this is a great forum. A lot of us Yanks are on there also.

 

[gatorguy]

Yep, that's it! Don

 

[bdahunter]

Thanks Guys,

I'll pass the info along as I think my bud could use the help.

BDA