Minelab Excalibur II 1000 BBS Multi-Frequency Metal Detector for Beach and Dive

The Minelab Excalibur II 1000 is the machine for detectorists ready to go fully underwater. Rated to 60 meters (200 feet) and powered by Minelab's proprietary BBS multi-frequency technology, it runs 17 simultaneous frequencies from 1.5 kHz to 25.5 kHz, covering the full target-response spectrum that single-frequency machines miss in saltwater. If your current detector handles surf zones but stops at wading depth, the Excalibur II picks up where it leaves off.

What You Gain Moving to Full Submersion

Most waterproof detectors are rated for wading or shallow surf, typically 3 meters or less. The Excalibur II is rated to 60 meters (200 feet), built for scuba operations on shipwrecks and reef sites where no other machine in its class goes. Here is what changes for detectorists making that step:

• True dive capability to 60 meters (200 ft). Shipwrecks, reef shelves, and deep-water coin sites become huntable terrain. Your current wading machine does not go there.
• BBS multi-frequency stability in saltwater. Single-frequency VLF machines in wet sand or saltwater produce false signals because salt behaves like a highly conductive target at some frequencies. BBS runs 17 frequencies simultaneously, averaging out salt-induced noise and returning stable target audio in conditions where VLF machines become erratic.
• No display, no flood risk. Every screen is a potential pressure-failure point. The Excalibur II uses rotary dials, accessible with neoprene dive gloves, and audio-based target discrimination instead of numeric ID readings.
• Auto ground balance across all conditions. Moving from dry beach sand to wet surf line to 15 feet of water, ground mineralization shifts continuously. Auto ground balance handles those transitions without manual input.
• 14 to 19 hours on a single charge. The detachable NiMH battery pod clips off the shaft for charging with no seals to open and no flood risk from battery access.
• Dual shaft system. The standard land shaft adjusts from 114 cm to 122 cm (45–48 in). Swap to the included dive shaft, which adjusts from 82 cm to 91 cm (32–36 in), for better coil handling below the surface.

Comparing waterproof detector options before committing to the Excalibur II? Browse our full waterproof metal detector collection to see what sits below it in dive-depth rating.

What's in the Box

• Minelab Excalibur II metal detector (control body with BBS module)
• 10" Double-D Smart coil (hard-wired)
• Standard shaft, adjustable 114–122 cm (45–48 in)
• Dive shaft, adjustable 82–91 cm (32–36 in)
• 12V / 1000 mAh NiMH rechargeable battery pod
• Universal mains charger
• Hard-wired Koss waterproof headphones

Where the Excalibur II Earns Its Depth Rating

Beach and Surf Zone

Salt-saturated wet sand is one of the hardest environments for conventional detectors. Salt behaves as a highly conductive target at certain frequencies, generating false signals that slow down an entire hunt. BBS eliminates that problem by broadcasting across 17 frequencies simultaneously, holding target audio stable regardless of salt concentration. Moving from the dry sand line to the foam and back requires no mode switching; auto ground balance compensates continuously. A sand scoop rated for surf retrieval rounds out the kit. Find options in our sand scoops and diving tools collection.

• Mode: Discriminate
• Sensitivity: 6–8 (reduce if chatter persists in high mineralization)
• Threshold: just audible
• Discrimination: 3–4 (eliminates foil while passing gold rings)

Shallow Wading and Lake Beds

Rivers, tidal flats, and freshwater lake edges are accessible without any specialized preparation beyond wading gear. Coins, rings, and relics settle in lake beds and river bends where on-land competition is nearly zero. Freshwater is significantly less mineralized than saltwater, so the Excalibur II runs at higher sensitivity with a cleaner threshold. The rotary controls stay accessible in waist-to-chest-deep water without surfacing.

• Mode: Discriminate
• Sensitivity: 7–9
• Threshold: 2–3
• Discrimination: 2–3 (minimal rejection; freshwater junk loads are lighter)

Scuba and Wreck Diving

At dive depths, jewelry, coins, and relics accumulate in sand pockets, crevices, and wreck debris fields. The hard-wired coil and headphone connections remove the external connectors that would be flood risks under sustained pressure. IP68-rated to 60 meters (200 feet), the Excalibur II is the machine for this terrain. The dive shaft shortens the overall detector length to 82–91 cm for better coil control near structures. Planning which sites to target? Our guide to finding metal detecting locations covers public water access and beach permit research.

• Mode: All Metal
• Sensitivity: 8–10
• Threshold: 4–5 (audible hum helps register threshold breaks at depth)
• Discrimination: off (all-metal mode for maximum signal depth on wreck targets)

BBS Technology: 17 Frequencies Running at Once

BBS (Broad Band Spectrum) is the Minelab Excalibur II's multi-frequency transmission system. Rather than selecting a single operating frequency, which fixes the depth-versus-target-size tradeoff for that entire hunt, BBS transmits all 17 frequencies simultaneously from 1.5 kHz to 25.5 kHz. Low frequencies penetrate deeper and respond better to large conductive targets. High frequencies respond better to small, low-conductivity targets like fine gold. Running all 17 at once means the Minelab Excalibur II captures response data across a full conductivity spectrum without any user frequency selection.

Auto ground balance works alongside BBS to suppress ground mineralization interference in real time. On saltwater beaches, where VLF machines fight a constant battle against salt-induced false signals, the Minelab Excalibur II's multi-frequency approach effectively separates salt response from actual target signal. A gold ring buried 10 inches in wet sand at the surf line returns a reliable, repeatable audio response rather than the choppy, unstable signal a single-frequency machine produces in those same conditions.

Build, Controls, and Audio

The Excalibur II's control body mounts shaft-side, a slimline pressure-resistant housing that keeps the center of gravity low for balanced underwater work. Five rotary dials control Threshold, Sensitivity, Volume, Discrimination, and Mode, all accessible with neoprene dive gloves. There is no display; target information comes entirely through audio tones rather than numeric target ID readings. Removing the screen eliminates a pressure-failure point and keeps the operator's focus on coil position rather than a readout.

Included Koss 8-ohm hard-wired waterproof headphones deliver multi-tone continuous audio discrimination. At lower discrimination settings, ferrous targets are rejected and non-ferrous targets pass. Increasing discrimination progressively removes conductive targets, letting you tune out aluminum while keeping gold and silver tones. The headphones use the same hard-wired, no-external-connector approach as the coil, with no plug to leak under pressure. The Excalibur II has no wireless audio option. High-visibility fluorescent yellow bodywork makes the detector identifiable in murky water or low ambient light, a practical safety feature for diving and night beach operations. Weight is 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs).

The 10" Double-D Coil

The 10" Double-D Smart coil is hard-wired to the Minelab Excalibur II, making the coil and control body a unified, sealed assembly. This eliminates the coil-to-shaft connector that, on other machines, is a potential leak point under sustained pressure. The DD configuration provides a narrower detection field than concentric coils, improving target separation in wreck debris fields and beach junk zones. The slimline profile reduces water resistance during lateral coil sweeps underwater.

The coil is not interchangeable. The 10" DD is the coil the Excalibur II ships with and the coil it operates on. No aftermarket coil options are available for this machine.

Minelab Excalibur II Specifications

• Technology: BBS (Broad Band Spectrum), RCB
• Operating Frequencies: 17 simultaneous (1.5 kHz to 25.5 kHz)
• Search Modes: Discriminate, All Metal
• Pinpoint: Yes
• Discrimination: Variable (continuous audio-based; no target ID segments or numeric readout)
• Target ID: None
• Depth Indicator: None
• Ground Balance: Automatic
• Sensitivity: Auto and manual (1–10)
• Coil: 10" Double-D Smart coil (hard-wired, non-interchangeable)
• Standard Shaft Length: 114 cm to 122 cm (45 in to 48 in)
• Dive Shaft Length: 82 cm to 91 cm (32 in to 36 in)
• Weight: 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)
• Battery: 12V / 1000 mAh NiMH rechargeable (included)
• Battery Life: 14–19 hours
• Waterproof Rating: IP68 to 60 m (200 ft)
• Audio: Multi-tone continuous (hard-wired Koss waterproof headphones included)
• Wireless Audio: No
• Display: None
• Warranty: 12 months (control box and coil)

Why Buy the Minelab Excalibur II from Serious Detecting

We are an authorized Minelab dealer, which means every Excalibur II we ship carries the full 12-month manufacturer warranty on the control box and coil, covered directly by Minelab. Our team hunts with this machine and can answer setup questions before you buy. Every order ships free to the contiguous US, backed by our 30-day return policy. If you find the Excalibur II for less at another authorized dealer, contact us and we will match it.