Minelab EXCALIBUR II 1000 Underwater Metal Detector, Military Discount

Our military discount applies to the Minelab EXCALIBUR II 1000, Minelab's underwater detector for divers, surf waders and beach hunters, rated waterproof to 60 meters (200 feet). It runs Minelab's BBS multi-frequency technology with automatic ground balance and a hardwired 10 inch Double-D coil.

Military Discount Eligibility

Active or Retired Military can receive a 15% discount on the purchase of a Minelab EXCALIBUR II 1000 Metal Detector. The discount shows in your cart once you add the Minelab EXCALIBUR II 1000 to it. Please provide a copy of your Driver's License designating "Veteran" and/or certificate highlighting the branch of service including your name to support@seriousdetecting.com or text to (844) 771-0707.

We do not accept a DD-214 as proof, DO NOT submit a DD-214.

Other detectors that qualify are in our military discount collection.

What is in the box with the Minelab EXCALIBUR II

Minelab's standard contents for the EXCALIBUR II (Minelab part 3303-0124)

• Minelab EXCALIBUR II control box with standard shaft
• 10 inch round Double-D hardwired coil with coil cover
• Dive shaft
• Koss 8 ohm waterproof headphones
• NiMH rechargeable battery pod, 13 V 1000 mAh
• Universal mains charger
• Recharge adapter
• Instruction manual

About the Minelab EXCALIBUR II 1000

The EXCALIBUR II is Minelab's underwater detector, rated IP68 waterproof to 60 meters (200 feet) for divers, waders and beach hunters. It runs Minelab's BBS multi-frequency technology, using 17 frequencies at once, from 1.5 to 25.5 kHz. Ground balance is automatic, so you can move from dry sand to the surf line and into the water without stopping to adjust it.

Who the Minelab EXCALIBUR II suits

The EXCALIBUR II was designed for serious underwater and saltwater detecting. Plenty of detectors handle wet sand; far fewer are built for repeated use under water at real depth. We like it most for people who regularly hunt ocean beaches, the shallow surf and swimming areas, because it was designed around the water rather than treating waterproofing as an extra.

Minelab EXCALIBUR II controls and audio

There is no screen. Rotary dials for Threshold, Sensitivity, Volume and Discriminate, and a Mode switch between Disc and Pinpoint, are sized so you can use them with gloves on. Targets are identified by sound: the multi-tone analog audio changes with a target's conductivity, and at lower discrimination settings ferrous targets are rejected while non-ferrous targets are accepted. Audio comes through the hardwired Koss 8 ohm waterproof headphones. To pinpoint, switch to Pinpoint mode, which detects all metals. Minelab notes the signal response there is much shorter than in Disc mode. Narrow each pass over the target until you know where it is, then cross it at right angles before you dig.

Shafts, coil and power

The 10 inch round Double-D coil is hardwired to the detector. The standard shaft adjusts from 114 to 122 cm (45 to 48 inches), and the dive shaft in the box adjusts from 82 to 91 cm (32 to 36 inches) for working close to the bottom. Minelab gives the NiMH rechargeable battery pack 14 to 19 hours of operation, and the high visibility fluorescent bodywork makes the detector easy to spot in dark water. Minelab also offers a Hip Mount Kit and an Ikelite charger adapter for the EXCALIBUR II.

Settings that matter on the Minelab EXCALIBUR II

BBS and sensitivity: on an ocean beach soaked with saltwater, conductive salt makes conditions hard for many detectors. BBS is designed to keep working there, but it does not remove every salt response, so sensitivity and ground conditions still matter.

Learning the tones: under water a display would be hard to read anyway, so learning the tones is the job. We would practice with coins, rings and trash on the beach before relying on it in deeper water.

Discrimination: on a beach scattered with iron debris, some discrimination cuts down unwanted signals. Go easy on it when you are after jewelry: gold rings can sound like non-ferrous trash, so rejecting too much trash can reject rings too.

Using the Minelab EXCALIBUR II in the surf and under water

We would work the surf line at low tide first, where rings and coins settle in the troughs and the wet sand, keeping the coil flat and low and swinging slower than on land so the tone has time to build. Under water, the dive shaft keeps the coil close to the bottom, and a long handled sand scoop or a short dive scoop recovers the target faster than digging by hand. On wet salt sand, if the threshold starts to waver, we would lower the sensitivity a step before changing anything else.

Where the Minelab EXCALIBUR II works well, and where it does not

The surf is where it shines. Standing waist deep with waves washing over the coil, you can submerge the whole detector within its rating, and a busy swimming area where rings get lost in shallow water is exactly its element. A tone still cannot tell you for certain that a target is a gold ring.

The 10 inch coil is a practical size under water, with good coverage and easy control, but do not expect to swap coils as on a land detector. The rechargeable NiMH pack is an older system than the internal lithium-ion batteries in many newer detectors, so charge and look after it properly.

For ordinary park hunting we would not pay for that specialization. A coin hunter is better served by a lighter detector with a screen, Target IDs and interchangeable coils, such as the Minelab MANTICORE or the Minelab EQUINOX 900, both waterproof to 5 meters (16 feet). For a sand scoop to go with the EXCALIBUR II, see our sand scoops and diving tools.

One mistake to avoid with the Minelab EXCALIBUR II

Do not assume a detector rated to 200 feet makes deep water safe. The rating describes the equipment, not diving conditions, currents, visibility or your own training. Strong currents, waves and poor visibility are real hazards even in the surf, and scuba work calls for proper dive certification and safety procedures.

Getting started with the Minelab EXCALIBUR II

Charge the battery pod, set the threshold to a faint hum and start in Disc mode with a low discrimination setting on the beach. Bury a few test targets in the wet sand to learn their tones, then move into the water with the dive shaft fitted when you are ready to go deeper.

Minelab EXCALIBUR II specifications

Minelab covers the EXCALIBUR II control box and coil with a 1-year limited warranty in the USA.

The free Serious Detecting field kit that comes with new EXCALIBUR IIs is not included with military discount orders.

For our full EXCALIBUR II guide, settings advice and comparisons, see the Minelab EXCALIBUR II 1000 collection.