Garrett’s Sea Hunter Mark II

[King Bee]

Sea Hunter Mark II's are the first and only PI machines I have ever owned. So, while I cannot give a comparison review, I have owned the machine for quite a while. I feel confident that I can talk about the machine’s pros and cons.

First, a little background: When I began metal detecting several years ago I wanted to focus on water hunting, primarily salt-water surf. With the funds available I picked up a used Sea Hunter Mark II. I had no experience, but the former owner showed me how to set it up and off I went. Fast-forward a few years. I’m now on my second Sea Hunter and I have land hunting machines as well. The bonus: They were both paid for by my water finds.

Sea Hunter Mark II.
Pros:
Price.
No leaks
Easy to use.
Built like a tank (except headphone wires).
Great battery life.
Multiple set-ups for a variety of hunting styles.
Good depth.

Cons:
No discrimination (no matter what the knob says).
Heavy.
Headphone wires are prone to break.
No volume control.

Experience:
I dig everything in the water, you just never know what’s down there. The Sea Hunter is a Pulse Induction machine. Regardless of what the knobs say, it does not discriminate between a coin or a piece of iron (I’ve never been able to get the discrimination the instructional video shows). That means it picks up everything. For some people that is a major con, for me it’s a pro. Its tones will give you a decent idea of depth. Be forewarned though, if you buy this machine you will have to get used to digging a bobby pin or pull tab, usually in a boiling surf, and lose it several times and have to find it again. You’ll do that just to see what it is. That is the nature of water hunting and PI’s.

The Sea Hunter doesn’t offer any short-cuts to this process. It just works very well as the means to accomplish it. That is why I recommend it as an intro to the method. Machines with similar capabilities cost nearly twice as much, and if you find out that water hunting is not for you, then you are out that money.

Keep in mind that surf hunting is a completely different animal than land hunting. It requires a different skill set and is relatively physically demanding. The frustration level can be much higher, but the pay-offs can be phenomenal. Ninety-nine percent of the time I am the only person hunting the water, while multiple hunters are scouring the beach’s blanket-line. When the conditions are good, gold and silver are the rewards. Happy hunting!

P.S.
If you are curious why I had to buy a second machine, my first one got backed-over by a mini van.

[KellycoChick]

Thank you for taking the time to write this up! Great review and I'm sure it will be referenced quite a bit!

[Ric-san]

King Bee;

Interesting info you provided...thanks. I'm looking at this md right now myself. If you see this post, please PM me when you online...I'm curious to know about the headphone thing and what is your opinion of the 1 yr warranty from Garrets on this md. I currently use a Ace 250 and am pleased beyond belief...I have no h2o experience, yet live near the sunny humid Florida beaches. I'm also looking at the White's Surf Pro PI, Tesoro Sand Shark and my buddy here is about to receive an Infinium this week...so I will see how he does with his new 'toy' One last thing, is $550 a good price for this new...? Thanks and hope to hear from ya soon...

Rick

[Joe L]

I also just purchased a Sea Hunter 2 and look forward to the beach, Thanks, JOe

[homefire]

Good write up! Thanks.

No PI can discriminate worth a hoot no matter what anyone says! It's how they detect that makes it all but impossible.

Some unites can reduce some Iron targets, ( REDUCE ) that's about it.

As for the Volume control, There has to be a way around that one.