Have you ever thought if a submersible metal detector can really help you find hidden treasures under the water? You can find coins, jewelry, and even old relics on saltwater beaches. But searching is not always easy. Saltwater treasure hunting is exciting because the ocean keeps many secrets. It needs special tools and some practice. You might have problems with mineralized sand and saltwater getting in the way. Using a submersible metal detector made for these places gives you the best chance to win. With patience and the right gear, you can join the fun and see what is under the waves.
Key Takeaways
Submersible metal detectors are waterproof and have special features. They work best for finding treasure in saltwater. Pulse Induction (PI) detectors work well with saltwater minerals. They can find things deeper but use more battery. You might have to dig more with them. Multi-frequency detectors are a good choice too. They work well in saltwater and help tell treasure from junk. Changing settings like ground balance and sensitivity helps a lot. It stops false signals and helps you find real treasure. Taking care of your detector is important. Clean it and follow local rules. This helps you treasure hunt longer and stay safe.
Submersible Metal Detector Basics
How It Works
A submersible metal detector helps you look for treasure underwater. You can use it at the beach, in shallow water, or while diving. These detectors are made to keep water out and protect the inside parts. Brands like Zhangzhou Eastern Technology Group use smart technology. This makes their detectors work well and easy to use in saltwater.
Here is a table that lists the main features that help a submersible metal detector work in saltwater:
Feature | Description | Example Product(s) |
|---|---|---|
Waterproof Depth Rating | High waterproof rating (often IP68), so you can use it deep underwater. | Nokta Legend (10 ft), Minelab Manticore (16 ft), Winbest Premiere (32.8 ft) |
Multi-frequency Operation | Uses more than one frequency to deal with saltwater and sand. | Nokta Legend, Minelab Manticore |
Waterproof Controls & Sealed Electronics | Buttons and inside parts are sealed to keep out water and salt. | Nokta Legend, Winbest Premiere |
Vibration Feedback | Vibrates to let you know when you find something underwater. | Nokta Legend |
Lightweight & Durable Materials | Made with strong, light materials like carbon fiber. | Nokta Legend, Minelab Manticore |
Advanced Discrimination | Helps you know if you found treasure or just junk, even in salty or sandy places. | Nokta Legend, Minelab Manticore |
Accessories | Waterproof headphones and pinpointers make searching easier. | Winbest Premiere |
These features help you search underwater without worrying about water hurting your detector. Zhangzhou Eastern Technology Group uses these smart designs in their submersible metal detectors. They also make waterproof gold scanners and LCD metal finders you can adjust. These tools help you feel sure when you hunt for treasure in saltwater.
Saltwater Challenges
Saltwater beaches are fun places to search, but they are also tricky. Saltwater has lots of minerals and salts. These minerals make the ground conduct electricity better. If you use a regular metal detector, you might get false signals or weird noises. Sometimes, you cannot find things as deep as you can on dry land. This happens because the detector gets mixed up by the minerals in the sand and water.
Here are some problems you might have in saltwater:
False signals that make you dig for nothing.
The detector acts strange or gives mixed signals.
You cannot find things as deep as on dry land.
The detector cannot always tell treasure from mineralized sand.
To fix these problems, you need a submersible metal detector with special technology. Many good detectors use Pulse Induction (PI) circuits. PI detectors send strong pulses that ignore most of the saltwater and minerals. This helps you get better signals and find things deeper. Some detectors also have ground balance. Ground balance lets you change the detector so it ignores minerals and looks for real metal.
Zhangzhou Eastern Technology Group makes their submersible metal detectors to handle these problems. Their products use smart circuits and waterproof designs. You can change sensitivity and discrimination settings for the best results. With the right detector, you can search in saltwater and have fun without getting frustrated.
Detector Types
When you pick a submersible metal detector for saltwater, you will see three main types. These are Pulse Induction (PI), Very Low Frequency (VLF), and Multi-Frequency. Each type works in its own way and has good and bad points. If you know how each one works in saltwater, you can choose the best one for your treasure hunt.
Pulse Induction
Pulse Induction detectors send out quick bursts of energy to find metal. PI detectors work great in saltwater. They do not get confused by minerals or salt like other detectors. This means you get fewer false signals and can search deeper in sand or water.
Here is a table that shows the main good and bad things about PI detectors:
Advantages of PI Metal Detectors | Disadvantages of PI Metal Detectors |
|---|---|
Finds metal at greater depths | Cannot tell metal types apart |
Ignores salt and minerals | Uses more battery power |
Works well in all soil types | Usually costs more |
PI detectors do not need much adjusting. You can use them on saltwater beaches, in the ocean, or in places with lots of minerals. Many treasure hunters pick PI detectors when they want to look for gold or deep items. But you might have to dig up every signal, even if it is just trash.
Tip: If you want to search in hard saltwater spots and do not mind digging more, a PI submersible metal detector is your best bet.
Zhangzhou Eastern Technology Group makes advanced PI submersible metal detectors. Their products help you search deeper and avoid problems from saltwater minerals. You can use these detectors for underwater treasure hunting or looking for gold.
VLF and Multi-Frequency
Very Low Frequency (VLF) detectors use one frequency to find metal. These detectors work well on dry land and clean sand. You can tell the difference between coins, jewelry, and trash. But in saltwater, VLF detectors often do not go as deep and give more false signals. The minerals in wet sand and saltwater can confuse them.
Multi-Frequency detectors send out more than one frequency at once. This helps them work better in saltwater and places with lots of minerals than VLF detectors. You get better sensitivity and can tell treasure from junk more easily. Multi-frequency detectors do not go as deep as PI detectors, but they are good at finding targets and telling what they are.
Here is a table that compares the three types in saltwater:
Detector Type | Detection Depth in Saltwater | Sensitivity and Performance in Saltwater | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Pulse Induction (PI) | Greater detection depth | Ignores minerals and salt; best for saltwater | Less energy efficient; heavier; no discrimination |
Very Low Frequency (VLF) | Reduced depth | Good on dry sand; struggles in saltwater | More energy efficient; better target ID on land |
Multi-Frequency | Versatile, improved sensitivity | Handles saltwater better than VLF; good discrimination | Does not reach PI depth; good for mixed conditions |
You can use a VLF detector with ground balance if you want to save money, but you may get more false signals in saltwater. Multi-frequency detectors are popular for beach hunting because they handle salty places better than VLF. Still, if you want the best depth and steady signals, PI detectors are the top choice for saltwater.
Zhangzhou Eastern Technology Group makes submersible metal detectors for all these needs. You can find waterproof gold scanners, LCD metal finders you can adjust, and advanced PI models in their lineup. These tools help you search with confidence, whether you are at the beach, in the ocean, or looking for gold.
Note: Always pick your detector type based on where you will hunt. For saltwater, PI and multi-frequency detectors work best.
Treasure Finds
Common Targets
When you use a submersible metal detector in saltwater, you can find cool treasures. People lose things at the beach all the time. Storms and waves can also bring up old coins and relics. Here are some things you might find:
Gold and diamond rings that swimmers lost
Gold and silver necklaces, bracelets, and watches
Modern coins and old coins, like Spanish silver and gold coins
Historical relics such as Civil War uniform buttons and trade tokens
Religious medallions with gemstones
The treasures you find can change by location. For example, Spanish coins show up more in the southern U.S. Civil War relics are found more on the East Coast. A Pulse Induction (PI) metal detector helps you find these things. It ignores salt and minerals, so you can search deeper in sand and water.
Tip: Always look at what you find. Some old coins or relics could be important for history.
Best Locations
You can find more treasure if you search in the right places. Some beaches are known for lost valuables and old finds. Here are some top spots for saltwater treasure hunting:
California beaches like Venice Beach, La Jolla Beach, and Carmel-by-the-Sea
Florida places such as Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and South Beach in Miami
Atlantic City in New Jersey and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina
Beaches in other countries, like England, Wales (with permission), and Nova Scotia
Look for busy areas with lots of people. The high water mark on crowded beaches is a good place to start. Try searching two hours before and after low tide. More sand is open, so you can check more spots.
Always check the rules before you start. Some places need permits or special permission. You cannot use metal detectors in national parks or protected areas. If you find something over 50 years old, you must tell the right people. Be respectful and follow the rules to keep treasure hunting safe and fun for everyone.
Note: Always get permission before searching on private land and follow all local laws. This keeps you and your hobby safe.
Tips for Success
Detector Settings
Getting the right settings on your submersible metal detector helps you find more treasure and avoid frustration. Start by using “Beach Mode” if your detector has it. This mode works best for saltwater and mineralized sand. Set the sensitivity to about 60-70% of the maximum. This level gives you good depth but keeps false signals low. Adjust the ground balance to ignore signals from minerals in the sand. You can use manual, automatic, or tracking ground balance, depending on your experience.
Tip: Set the threshold so you hear a faint hum. This helps you catch small or deep targets without too much noise.
Choose lower frequencies for wet sand and saltwater. Lower frequencies reach deeper. For dry sand, higher frequencies work better. Avoid using only auto sensitivity. Manual adjustments, along with discrimination and ground balance, give you more stable results. If you hunt in trashy areas, adjust recovery speed and notch filtering to help find good targets.
Maintenance
Saltwater can wear down your detector if you do not take care of it. Check O-rings every month for cracks or stress. Replace them with the correct size if needed. Use food-grade silicone spray to keep parts moving smoothly. Clean all sealing areas before putting your detector back together. Swap out plastic knobs for brass-core knobs to make them last longer.
Inspect for corrosion, especially green spots around nuts.
Look for loose or wobbly knobs that might let water in.
Replace cracked plastic parts right away.
A well-maintained submersible metal detector can last 7 to 10 years, even with regular saltwater use.
Safety
Stay safe while treasure hunting in saltwater. Wear a wetsuit in cold water to keep warm. Always search during the day for better visibility. Watch water currents and avoid strong ones. Stick to shallow water, about four feet or less, to reduce risk. Use long-handled scoops to grab targets without diving. Waterproof headphones help you hear signals clearly. Check weather and tide reports before you go out.
Note: Research the area and follow local laws. Get permission if needed and never hunt in protected zones.
Limitations
Depth
You may ask how deep your submersible metal detector can search in saltwater. The answer depends on the detector model and its technology. Most regular detectors can go underwater up to 10 feet. Some special models, like the Minelab Excalibur II, can reach 200 feet deep. These are made for deep-sea searching.
Most waterproof detectors work in shallow water up to 10 feet in both saltwater and freshwater.
Special dive detectors, often with pulse induction, can go as deep as 200 feet.
Shallow submersible detectors have about the same depth in saltwater and freshwater.
Advanced dive detectors are best in saltwater, handling tough spots and going deeper.
Saltwater makes it harder to find things because it has lots of minerals and conducts electricity well. This means you cannot find things as deep as you can in dry sand. Sometimes, saltwater cuts your search depth in half. You should change your detector’s settings, like ground balance and sensitivity, for better results. Pulse Induction (PI) and multi-frequency detectors help you find deeper targets in these hard places.
False Signals
False signals are a big problem when you search in saltwater. These signals make your detector beep even if there is no treasure. Many things can cause false signals:
Minerals from saltwater and wet sand
Power lines or other electric devices nearby
Water inside the control box
Broken or bad coils
Metal trash or objects close by
Waves moving over the coil
Saltwater’s minerals and high conductivity often make your detector beep for no reason. If you set sensitivity too high, it gets worse. You can stop false signals by:
Changing ground balance at the water’s edge
Lowering sensitivity to a medium setting
Using detectors with smart signal processing, like Broad Band Spectrum (BBS), Multi Period Sensing (MPS), or Dual Voltage Technology (DVT)
Turning off other electronics to avoid electromagnetic interference (EMI)
Using iron audio to skip unwanted iron signals
Tip: Start with medium sensitivity and change it slowly. Use ground balance and noise cancel features to help your detector find real targets, not just mineral noise.
With the right settings and technology, you can stop most false signals and have more fun treasure hunting in saltwater.
You can find real treasure in saltwater with the right submersible metal detector. Some advanced detectors use special technology like pulse induction and multi-frequency. These help you find valuable things, even when it is hard. Many treasure hunters have found coins and relics at shipwreck sites with these tools. If you want to try, look up different detectors or go to a local beach. Saltwater treasure hunting is exciting and lets you discover pieces of history.
FAQ
How deep can you use a submersible metal detector in saltwater?
Most submersible metal detectors can go down 10 feet. Some special models can reach as deep as 200 feet. Always read your detector’s manual to know the exact depth. Check before you start searching underwater.
Can you use any metal detector in saltwater?
You need a detector made for saltwater use. Regular detectors often beep for no reason or stop working. Pick a waterproof detector with pulse induction or multi-frequency for best results.
What treasures do people usually find on saltwater beaches?
You can find gold rings, silver jewelry, coins, and old relics. Many people lose things while swimming at the beach. Storms can also bring up old items. Each beach has different treasures to find.
How do you protect your metal detector from saltwater damage?
Rinse your detector with fresh water after every use. Check the seals and O-rings for cracks often. Keep your detector in a dry place when not using it. Cleaning it regularly helps it last longer.


