Underwater Detector Depth Test Results - How Deep are You Detecting??

[bdahunter]

• DETECTOR DEPTH COMPARISON TEST RESULTS
  • • test results compiled by Scoopman
      of Treasure Coast Scoops Florida

NOTE: This test was not done by me, and was conducted in a unique mineralized area of Florida Beach. The results may not be the same at another type beach

We have operated a multi-line detector shop and scoop manufacturing business for the past eleven years. We also are professional salvors working the 1715 Spanish Fleet on the east central coast of Florida. We do minor repairs to local salvor detectors throughout the dive season. Our quest was to find a machine that will detect 22k plus spanish gold in the water and on our mineralized beaches, under severe adverse conditions. All eleven participants are very well skilled with their choice of detector. Our beaches were surface mined many years ago to extract minerals used for the flux-coating of welding rods. There are many detectors that will not work in our area. This test was to seek the best machine for our conditions and not to belittle any other detectors. We had access to the detectors, but there may be other detectors that will work here that we were not able to compare at this time. The following targets were freshly buried in a plastic cup that was taped to a 24” wooden ruler. The sand was firmly packed to simulate the surrounding sand and the pounding surf would be as close as real hunting conditions. Participants ranged from 30 years of age to 65 years of age. All agreed that signal tone would equal a diggable signal. We tried to not strain to hear faint signals. All detectors were tuned to maximum depth and allowable sensitivity. All participants checked each others results to verify a diggable signal tone. It was noted that some participants had problems hearing different detector signal tones.
Listed below is our targets.
1. Eight Reale Spanish 1 1/2”x1 1/4”x3/32” thick Weight=24 grams
2. Gold 22k Mexico Fantasy Peso 5/16 dia. Weight=1/10 of 1 gram
3. Gold 22k US $2.50 piece 3/4” dia. Weight=4grams
4. Gold 14k Figaro neckchain Weight=14 grams
5. Fine 14k Gold Ring with small diamond set in ebony Weight=1/2 gram
6. US clad $.25
7. Mystery Target

Target #1. Buried 14” (eight reale)equal to US silver dollar which weights 26 grams
Whites Surfmaster Pulse 9 1/2” coil 14” diggable depth signal.
Garrett xl500 13” coilcould not read 14”
Fisher 1235x 12” hothead coilcould not read 14”
Fisher Impulse 10” coil 14” max.
Fisher CZ20 8” coil 16 1/2” max.
Fisher CZ20 10” coil 18” max.
XS Sovereign 8” foam coil Disc. mode= 14” non disc. 18 1/2-19”.
XS Sovereign 12” foam coil Disc. mode 16” non disc. 22”
Excalibur 8” coil 15 1/2” max.
Excalibur 10” coil Disc. mode 19” pinpoint mode 22” max.

Target #2. Buried 2” deep Mexican Fantasy Peso 1/10 of 1 gram.
Whites Surfmaster = 2”
Garrett xl500 = 2”
Fisher 1235x = 2 1/2”
Fisher CZ20 8” coil = 6” max.
Fisher CZ20 10” coil = 2” max.
Fisher Impulse 10” coil 5” max.
XS Sovereign 8” coil =8” max.
XS Sovereign 10” coil = 8” max.
Excalibur 8” coil =6” max.
Excalibur 10” coil= 8” max.

Target #3. Gold 22k US $2.50 4 grams Buried 10”
White’s Surfmaster 10” max.
Garrett xl500 4” max.
Fisher 1235x 4” max.
Fisher Impulse 11” max.
Fisher CZ20 8” 12” max.
Fisher Cz20 10” 14” max.
XS Sovereign 8” 11” max.
XS Sovereign 12” 14” max.
Excalibur 8” 14” max.
Excalibur 10” 15” max.

Target #4. Gold Figaro Chain 14 grams Buried 2” in straight line
Whites Surfmaster 1” max.
Garrett xl500 no signal
Fisher 1235x 12” coil 4” max.
Fisher Impulse no signal
Fisher CZ20 8” 3” max.
Fisher CZ20 10” 2” max.
XS Sovereign 8” 3” max.
XS Sovereign 12” 2 1/2 “ max.
Excalibur 8” 2” max.
Excalibur 10” 2 1/2” max.

Target #5. Gold Ring 2 grams Buried 6”
Whites Surfmaster 6 1/2” max.
Garrett xl500 13” no signal
Fisher 1235x 12” 6” max.
Fisher Impulse 10” 8” max.
Fisher CZ20 8” 9” max.
Fisher CZ20 10” 10” max.
XS Sovereign 8” 14” max.
XS Sovereign 12” 11” max.
Excalibur 8” 11” max.
Excalibur 10” 14” max.

Target #6.US clad 25 cent piece Buried 12”
Whites Surfmaster 12” max.
Garrett xl500 13” 13” max.
Fisher 1235x 12” 13” max.
Fisher Impulse 10” no signal
Fisher CZ20 8” 14” max.
Fisher CZ20 10” 14” max.
XS Sovereign 8” 13” max.
XS Sovereign 12” 17” max.
Excalibur 8” 17” max.
Excalibur 10” 19” max.

Target #7. Mystery Target Nothing in the cup at 8” depth.
All participants agreed no target to be found.

Cheers,

BDA

[MinelabMan]

Cool test, confirms my belief.....Chick did you see this?

[sandyfeet]

Great report!!!

Im always interested in beach huntin info....Looks like the Sov./ Excal. are hard to beat. Wish they would have tryed the 15' WOT coil on the Sov....It would be interesting to see the difference if any.

Thanks for the post

Sandyfeet

[Paul is Dead]

Nice test. But I have some questions for it as of conditions.
I might have missed something in the reading of text, so correct me if I am wrong here.

They said that they buried it in a cup at X amount of inches. Now would it have made a difference if the subject was buried in wet sand, and creating more conductivity? On that point was the sand wet or dry? What difference would a cup make by not having contact to wet sand. And if it is that deep, on dry, the sand close to shore become moist.

Maybe it was addressed, but I didn't see it, and then again I don't see a lot of things...

[bdahunter]

Originally Posted by My detector smokes

Nice test. But I have some questions for it as of conditions.
I might have missed something in the reading of text, so correct me if I am wrong here.

They said that they buried it in a cup at X amount of inches. Now would it have made a difference if the subject was buried in wet sand, and creating more conductivity? On that point was the sand wet or dry? What difference would a cup make by not having contact to wet sand. And if it is that deep, on dry, the sand close to shore become moist.

Maybe it was addressed, but I didn't see it, and then again I don't see a lot of things...

Hey Mate, It wasn't my test so like you I had to infer some of the conditions from the introduction to the test.
The testers state that the target was in a cup taped to a ruler but they also state that the sand was packed back in place to make a fair test for detecting on surf pounded sand - this would lead me to infer that the cup was used to keep the target flat at the specified depth and that it was full of packed sand that if it was to simulate surf packed sand would be hand packed and wet.
The testers also state that the sand is highly mineralized which will penalize some of the detectors that are less capable in that environment.
All the detectors tested were tested for salt water conditions so that would also indicate wet sand in my mind as the dry sand would have the salt leeched out from rainfall.
So my assumption (and we all know what happens when you assume) is that it was a wet sand test or a shallow water test.

Cheers,

BDA

[Paul is Dead]

BDA,

Agreed. I wasn't questioning you. Just in the description it just sounded as if there may have been some loop holes. You know how us contractor guys think. Maybe that isn't the best example. On a first read, I saw cup, not stating if the cup was packed, just the sand around it. If the cup was packed it would have made a better test to put some of the objects at angles, or on edge. In order to produce real conditions. I also wonder if when lifting the rule to a readable level, if the rule itself would be an issue? Seeing if the rule is above ground, wouldn't one have sweep around it?

Just thoughts. I use a excal 10" very happy with it. It has given me lots of goodies.

[bdahunter]

I hear what you're saying Smoke. I'm assuming here again but if it was me I would have put the 2' ruler flush with the top of the sand after setting the target at the correct depth on the ruler. A coin lying flat in the bottom of the cup would give a better signal than a coin on edge but at least it would take out the variance in the depth. I suppose they could have split the difference and set the coin on edge with the middle of the coin being at the correct depth but you know how we contractors hate it when we're asked to 'split the difference', especially on extras that we've done and are therefore entitled to the 'whole' amount.

Cheers,

BDA

[Paul is Dead]

The worst two sentences I hate most on a job.... While you're here, and Oh, by the way.

Back at ya.

[ERnurse]

Wow, very interesting test. Thanks for posting.

[Buster]

Cool test for sure..Here is one more....Before you leave......I heard that so many times.....Buster....