The Catalogue
Beach & Surf Detectors
Beach and surf detectors are built for the one place that defeats ordinary machines: the saltwater coastline. Dry sand at the top of the beach behaves like normal ground, but the moment you reach the wet sand, the surf line and the shallows, salt and black-sand mineralisation flood a single-frequency detector with false signals — exactly where the dropped rings, chains and coins collect. The detectors on this page are engineered to read through that salt and hold a clean, stable threshold from the high-tide line into the water.
Two technologies handle saltwater. Simultaneous multi-frequency machines — the Minelab Equinox 800 and 900 (Multi-IQ) and the flagship Manticore (Multi-IQ+) — run a dedicated Beach mode that cancels salt while keeping a usable Target ID, so you dig fewer pull-tabs. Pulse induction (PI) goes the other way: the Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II and the 17-frequency BBS Minelab Excalibur II simply ignore salt and mineralisation for the deepest, quietest signal in the surf, at the cost of less discrimination. The rugged Garrett AT Pro bridges both worlds — submersible to 3 m, it works dry sand, wet sand and shallow water on one machine.
Waterproof depth ratings matter: an IP68 body rated to 5 m (Equinox 900, Manticore) or a 3 m unit (AT Pro) is built for wading and the surf line, while fully submersible PI and BBS units like the Sea Hunter Mark II and Excalibur II go far deeper for chest-deep and dive work. Every detector we sell is genuine, authorised stock with manufacturer warranty, delivered across Africa and the MENA region. Tell us how you hunt — dry sand only, or into the surf — on WhatsApp in Arabic, French or English, and we will match the right machine; there is no online checkout.
8 products · Garrett · Minelab
USA
Australia
How to choose
- Decide where you hunt: dry sand only is forgiving and even a single-frequency VLF copes, but wet sand, the surf line and the shallows demand multi-frequency (Equinox 800/900, Manticore) or pulse induction (Sea Hunter Mark II, Excalibur II) to beat the salt.
- Choose multi-frequency for fewer junk digs: Minelab's Multi-IQ Beach mode cancels salt while keeping a usable Target ID, so you can skip pull-tabs and foil instead of digging every signal.
- Choose pulse induction for maximum depth in the surf: the Sea Hunter Mark II and Excalibur II punch deepest through salt and black sand, but discriminate less — expect to dig more trash for that extra depth.
- Read the waterproof depth rating, not just the word 'waterproof': 3 m (AT Pro) and IP68-to-5 m (Equinox 900, Manticore) cover wading and the surf line; fully submersible PI/BBS units go much deeper for chest-deep and dive work.
- Watch out for black-sand mineralisation: hot, iron-rich sand needs good ground handling and a stable threshold — confirm the model has a true Beach/salt mode before you rely on it in the surf.
- Buy genuine and ask first: confirm authorised stock and manufacturer warranty, then message us on WhatsApp in your language and tell us whether you stay on dry sand or wade into the surf so we match the right detector — not the priciest.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my detector go crazy on wet sand and in the surf?
Saltwater is conductive, so a single-frequency VLF detector reads the wet salt sand and the surf as one giant target and chatters with false signals. The fix is technology built for salt: simultaneous multi-frequency with a Beach mode (Equinox 800/900, Manticore) cancels the salt while keeping Target ID, and pulse induction (Sea Hunter Mark II, Excalibur II) ignores salt entirely for the deepest, quietest signal. Dry sand at the top of the beach is usually fine even with a basic machine.
Multi-frequency or pulse induction for the beach — which should I choose?
It depends on whether you value discrimination or raw depth. Multi-frequency (Equinox 800/900, Manticore) keeps a clear Target ID in salt, so you can reject pull-tabs and foil and dig fewer junk targets — ideal for general beach hunting and dry-to-wet sand. Pulse induction (Sea Hunter Mark II, Excalibur II) goes deeper and quieter in salt and black sand but discriminates less, so you dig more trash; it shines in the surf and for serious depth. Many coastal hunters pick a waterproof multi-frequency all-rounder first.
What does the waterproof depth rating actually mean for beach use?
"Waterproof" ranges from splash-resistant to deep submersion, so always read the metre figure. For dry sand, wet sand and the surf line you are wading — not diving — so a 3 m unit (Garrett AT Pro) or an IP68 body rated to 5 m (Equinox 900, Manticore) is more than enough and lets you dunk the whole detector safely. If you plan to work chest-deep or actually dive, step up to a fully submersible pulse-induction or BBS unit such as the Sea Hunter Mark II or Excalibur II, which are rated for far greater depth.
Can one detector do both dry beach and the wet surf line?
Yes — that is exactly what a versatile waterproof machine is for. The Minelab Equinox 800/900 and Manticore switch between dry-sand and Beach (salt) modes and are submersible, and the Garrett AT Pro is rated to 3 m so it moves from the dunes down into the shallows on one trip. If your hunting is mostly in the surf and you want maximum depth, a dedicated pulse-induction or BBS machine like the Sea Hunter Mark II or Excalibur II is the specialist tool. Tell us your usual beach and we will recommend one machine that covers it.
Are your beach detectors genuine and how do I order without paying online?
Yes. AO Gold Detectors is an authorised dealer and every beach and surf detector is genuine stock backed by the full manufacturer warranty. There is no online card checkout — you enquire directly on WhatsApp, where our team advises in Arabic, French or English, confirms availability and price, and arranges free shipping to served countries across Africa and the MENA region. Tell us whether you hunt dry sand or wade into the salt surf, plus your budget, and we will match the right detector — not the most expensive one.
How much does a beach and waterproof detector cost?
The price of a beach and waterproof detector depends on the model and how it handles saltwater. Mid-range submersible machines like the Minelab Equinox 800 and 900 and the Garrett AT Pro offer excellent value, while higher-end models such as the Minelab Manticore, Excalibur II and the Garrett Sea Hunter sit at the top for serious surf and dive work. Each model's exact price is shown on its own product page — the USD figure is for reference and the AED price is binding. Since there is no online checkout, message us on WhatsApp for the current price and the best beach detector for where you hunt and your budget. All units are genuine and warranty-backed.