Nokta FINDX Pro Waterproof Metal Detector with Headphones, Digger and Bag

The Nokta FINDX Pro is a fully waterproof 15 kHz metal detector for coins, jewelry and relics in parks, yards and on freshwater beaches, sold as a complete starter package. It is the waterproof model of Nokta's FINDX series, with four search modes (Field, Park, Beach and Jewelry), a 0 to 99 target ID, five sensitivity levels, notch discrimination, pinpoint and a depth indicator. Nokta rates it IP68, submersible to 5 meters (16 feet), and lists it at 1.2 kg (2.6 lb).

Who the Nokta FINDX Pro is for

What we appreciate about the FINDX Pro is that Nokta has put together a package that makes it easy to start metal detecting. A common problem with entry-level detectors is that someone buys the detector and then finds out they still need headphones, a digging tool and something to carry their equipment. The FINDX Pro covers much of that. We would not recommend it just because it includes accessories, though: the detector itself is fully waterproof and offers target identification, pinpointing and four search modes.

Picture someone who has never used a metal detector. They want to search their backyard, visit local parks and perhaps try a nearby lake. They probably do not want to spend their first afternoon learning recovery speed settings, tone breaks and advanced audio configurations; they want to turn the detector on and start searching. That is where the FINDX Pro makes sense: a simple interface, four search modes, and the time goes into learning basic detecting skills. In our experience it suits a first detector, parks, yards, freshwater beaches and casual coin and jewelry hunting.

It also makes a good gift for a teenager or adult who wants to try the hobby, because they can assemble it, charge it and start learning without shopping for extra accessories first. Whoever uses it, get permission before searching private property, follow local rules for parks and public land, and recover targets carefully; our metal detecting laws and code of ethics page covers the basics.

What is in the box with the Nokta FINDX Pro

Nokta's standard contents for the FINDX Pro

• Nokta FINDX Pro system box with aluminum and plastic shaft
• SX28 waterproof DD search coil, 28 cm (11 inches), with coil cover
• Wired headphones
• 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) headphone adapter
• Premium digger
• USB charger and data cable
• Carrying bag

The included headphones make quieter target responses easier to hear, the digger gives you a way to recover targets, and the carrying bag keeps the equipment together. A dedicated handheld pinpointer still makes recovery easier, and for someone who enjoys the hobby it is often one of the first accessories we recommend; see our pinpointers.

Nokta FINDX Pro search modes

• Park: three tones. Ferrous targets (01 to 14) give a low tone, 15 to 41 a medium tone and 42 to 99 a high tone. We would start here in a typical park or yard.
• Field: for relic hunting on clean sites. Ferrous targets give a low tone, and non-ferrous targets (15 to 99) a higher tone that rises in pitch as the coil gets closer.
• Beach: for wet salty sand. Target IDs 0 to 15 are notched out by default and cannot be changed, and other targets give one medium tone.
• Jewelry: a four-tone arrangement (0 to 14, 15 to 70, 71 to 80 and 81 to 99) that gives you another way to evaluate target responses. Jewelry mode is the FINDX Pro's own mode; the plain FINDX does not have it.

Many beginners assume a detector can simply identify gold. It cannot: gold jewelry can produce target responses similar to aluminum trash. Jewelry mode does not guarantee that a signal is gold, so if you are searching for jewelry, expect to dig some unwanted metal. That is part of the process. Sensitivity has five levels, preset per mode and adjustable per mode, and notch discrimination rejects target ID ranges from the 0 to 99 scale.

Reading signals on the FINDX Pro

In Park mode, the low, medium and high tones give you clues about how the detector is classifying a target, but they do not guarantee what is underground. A high tone does not always mean a valuable coin, and a medium tone does not always mean jewelry. We encourage beginners to dig a variety of repeatable signals while learning, because that is how you find out how real objects respond.

One mistake we would warn about is assuming every strong signal is a valuable target. A loud, repeatable signal with a promising target ID can turn out to be a crushed aluminum can. One habit that helps: notice how a signal changes as you raise the coil slightly above the ground. A large object may keep producing a strong response at a greater coil height than a small coin. It is not a foolproof method, but it gives you useful information.

The depth indicator has five levels based on a 2.5 cm (1 inch) coin, and target size, orientation and ground conditions all affect it, so use it as a guide rather than an exact measurement. The pinpoint function narrows down where the target sits under the coil (the detector shows no target ID while pinpointing). It is not the same as a handheld pinpointer, which is what you want once the hole is open and you are looking for a small object in loose soil.

FINDX Pro waterproofing, battery and display

Full waterproofing is one of the FINDX Pro's biggest advantages. Nokta rates it IP68, submersible to 5 meters (16 feet), so you can start in the dry sand of a freshwater swimming area, move to the shoreline and keep searching in shallow water. The included headphones are not waterproof, and other accessories should not be assumed waterproof either; Nokta lists its Nokta Waterproof Headphones as compatible with the FINDX Pro, see our FINDX Pro headphones. Nokta also says not to use the detector underwater while connected to a power bank, and wired headphones cannot be used while a power bank is connected.

The 2300 mAh lithium polymer battery runs about 12 hours on average, depending on the speaker, headphones and backlight, and charges in about 3 hours from a USB charger or power bank through the FINDX Pro's own charger socket. We would still charge it before each trip rather than rely only on the battery indicator. The graphic mono LCD and keypad are backlit for low light.

FINDX Pro vs the regular Nokta FINDX

The regular Nokta FINDX has a waterproof search coil, rated to 1 meter (3.3 feet), but its control box is not designed for submersion. The FINDX Pro is fully waterproof to 5 meters (16 feet) and adds Jewelry mode, so it handles freshwater beaches and shallow water as well as dry parks and yards. Waterproofing is one of the clearest reasons to choose it.

The SX28 11 inch coil and other compatible coils

The FINDX Pro comes with Nokta's SX28 11 inch waterproof Double-D coil, a practical size for general detecting. In a large park or open field it covers ground efficiently, and it suits ordinary coin and jewelry hunting. Around playground equipment, or where lots of metal objects sit close together, the coil may respond to several targets in one sweep, and a smaller coil can make individual targets easier to isolate. Nokta lists the SX24 (9.5 x 6 inch) and SX35 (13.5 x 12.5 inch) coils as compatible with the FINDX Pro; see our FINDX Pro coils.

Where the FINDX Pro works well, and where it does not

The FINDX Pro is built around simplicity and value, which is a strength for beginners. It runs a single 15 kHz frequency, and its Beach mode helps manage conductive ground, but wet saltwater sand near the surf can still interfere with target detection. For freshwater beaches we think it is a reasonable choice; if you regularly search wet ocean sand, consider a simultaneous multi-frequency detector such as the Nokta Score series.

Someone who expects to spend a lot of time on difficult historical sites, such as an old farmstead full of iron debris, may eventually want adjustable recovery speed and more detailed audio settings; the Nokta Simplex ULTRA offers those. If you prefer a smaller standard coil and more adjustment, including 30 sensitivity levels and ground balance, the Nokta Simplex LITE deserves consideration. The FINDX Pro still finds coins, jewelry and relics; it is a straightforward general-purpose detector rather than a highly adjustable specialist machine.

Nokta FINDX Pro vs Simplex LITE vs Simplex ULTRA

Our advice: the FINDX Pro is a good fit for someone buying a first metal detector who wants a straightforward, reasonably complete package. It is not the most advanced detecting technology; it gives you the equipment and basic capabilities to start enjoying metal detecting without making it complicated. For more first-detector options, see our guide to the best metal detector for beginners.

Nokta FINDX Pro specifications

Nokta covers the FINDX Pro with a 2-year warranty. Serious Detecting is an authorized Nokta dealer. Coils and accessories for it are in our Nokta FINDX Pro collection.