GUADELOUPE FINDS

EXCALIBUR

All the gold items pictured were found by 7 treasure hunters with Minelab Excalibur underwater metal detectors in one week on a recent (November 2009) Streeter Caribbean Treasure hunting adventure!G. Streeter

METAL DETECTING PAYS OFF AT US$36,000/HR

EXCALIBUR II

On September 27th, on the last day of my recent Caribbean water-detecting trip, I had a couple of nice finds. I used my trusty Minelab Excalibur II with a 10" Coil the entire trip. The Caribbean water was so warm I could hunt all day without my wet suit. I was only hunting maybe 15 minutes into my final day when I hit my first find of that day. I found a chunky 14kt yellow and white gold “Rolex Ring” in the mild surf. It weighed in at 1/3 of an ounce and had 17 diamond accent stones in circle in the middle. It is called a Rolex Ring because it resembles a Rolex Watch. At size 12 it was also perfect for me to wear as a pinky ring. 

Just before noon I had ventured down in front of a major resort and Casino. I was silently wading along when a frantic fellow came out and stopped me. “Hey Mister, would you be so kind to come up on shore and help us find my wife’s engagement ring for a reward?” My response, “Sure, I would love to help you out”. I always ask for a description just in case I find other items. It was a 1.5ct diamond with a white gold setting. It seems the owner had taken it off and placed it on her lap to apply lotion to her daughter. Forgetting the ring, she then stood up and then walked around until horrified she remembered what she had done. They had searched in vain for about an hour. 

When I arrived at the scene the beach chairs were all removed to the side and there was a crowd of fifty or so spectators ringing the area. The forlorn wife stood dejectedly to the side. The deep sand was white and fluffy. My “Nose for Gold” must have been well tuned that day. In just three sweeps of my Excalibur II, I heard that beloved deep sweet gold tone. It did not take more than 15 seconds of hunting. I pointed at the blasting target and the husband excitedly dove to his knees to dig but I waved him off. One swipe with my 5” surf scoop and there it was sparkling back at me. I presented my scoop to the husband and said, “Is that it?” The spectators roared their approval and the wife beamed a wide smile as she put her cherished ring back where it belonged. I wish I had a video. Immediately she dug into her bag and presented me with three crisp US$50 bills. This was a WIN – WIN for all. If my math is correct US$150 for 15 seconds works out to US$36,000 per hour. Not bad work if you can get it! This was also the first time I found two diamond rings in one day. 

Dan 'Ring-a-Day' Hennessy - Defreestville, NY

A TRUE BELIEVER

EXCALIBUR 1000

Just started MD'ing since middle of July 2009, started with a used cheap underwater MD, but was only finding mostly clad (US$10 total), so I decided to buy a used Excalibur 1000 on August 11, 2009. Well after letting the batteries charge for a day and using the alkaline pack to practice in my back yard, I headed out on 13 August, 2009 to try my luck with my Excalibur and I hit it BIG!!! A 1.5ct ring with platinum setting with a 14kt band appraised at US$9,000. Also found my first silver just a week later. Even though my Excalibur is a 2005 model it seems to still have plenty of life left and then some!!! Keep setting the standard Minelab; you've made me a true believer in your products!

K. Gardner - Florida, USA

EXCALIBUR II PAYS FOR ITSELF!

EXCALIBUR II

Just a quick update on the new Excalibur II which I purchased on 3 April 2009. In short, the upgrade has been paid for in 3 weeks from the date I received the detector. 

I have found 12 gold rings with the Excalibur II. The total weight found is 41 grams of 9kt and 20 grams of 18kt. With the current scrap gold price at ZAR 95 per gram of 9kt, that comes to ZAR 7,695. The upgrade from the Excalibur I to the Excalibur II cost ZAR 5,700 so already I have made a profit of ZAR 2,000 just on the gold found!! 

Three of the rings found were in wet sand, one in the surf and the other eight while I was diving on the South Coast. I have included a photo of the eight rings found while diving. 

Andy - South Africa

THE EXCALIBUR II HAS ME HOOKED!

EXCALIBUR II

I bought my Excalibur II in February 2009. This is my first water machine and my first year water hunting, so yes I am a rookie at it, but I am hooked. 

I went to the beach with my wife and kids today and right away I started digging coins right off the bat with the Excalibur II. After scooping up a dollar or so I moved to deeper water. I got a nice tone and dug it .It was my first gold ring, I was pumped and I called my wife over to show it to her, she was pumped too. I asked her to hold on to it. 

About a half hour later I found the sterling silver boy scout ring and some more coins. Then when I was getting ready to call it a day I found the tiger eye ring and two feet from that, the 14kt GP leaf ring. It was a great day: four rings, over three dollars in change and a 1919 wheat penny. 

I know I didn't go wrong with this machine. Thank you Minelab. 

Andy V. - Michigan

DETECTING THE NORTH

EXCALIBUR 800

First detector was an Excalibur submersible. It was always in the back of my vehicle but never much used. That was until I was in Port Headland, WA and I wasn't having any luck picking up a job. I was down to my last AU$50 and no dole. I saw a small side show on part of an oval and started thinking about money they might drop around the stalls. 

Two days later they were gone and I was there Excalibur in hand. I had a smile on my face from that day on $40 for 4 hours. My first time, trying to learn as I go. 

From that day on the days just got better. For six weeks I detected 2 beaches, 5 sports grounds, 2 parks and 2 race tracks between Port Headland and Karratha. I found a total of just over AU$3,000 in $1 and $2 coins, 17 rings, 22 pendants and 20 odd dollars of 1 and 2 cent pieces. Approximately $50 in silver, mostly 50c pieces (once I got the hang of the discriminator). Plus 34 pre-decimal coins, lead sinkers - I stopped counting at 150.For six weeks I was completely in awe with what I was finding so easily I didn't even give a thought to getting a job. I had the best time. My fuel, food, scotch coke & ice cost me nothing. 
I drove home to Kal along the way and I made 2 stops which got me another $60. I arrived in Kal with over $300 left and all the other goodies, it was an amazing trip. 
My thoughts on this machine... nothing to fault except it's bloody heavy and needs to be hip-mounted. It would then have minimal drag in the water and be extra light on land and beach. To me it's my multipurpose detector. You can detect with this, rain, hail or shine. You can drop it in the sand, water or mud. It should be re-birthed as the all terrain. 

Paul H. - Australia

GREATEST HOBBY IN THE WORLD!

I have been an active metal detector enthusiast since 1979 and have used every brand of machine that has been made. BFO, TR, VLF, Pulse and others. For the majority of that time I was convinced that I was using the "best" brand available. In July of 2001 I decided to invest in a machine that would be primarily used in the water. I've been a scuba diver since 1981 and my most valuable discoveries had been found in the water.After much research and actually speaking with other detector owners I purchased the Minelab Excalibur 1000. Since that time I have recovered 486 rings and literally thousands of coins. Many are pre-1900. The best ring found was a 1/3ct VVS1 Diamond Solitaire in 14kt. That was a sweet surprise for my lovely wife! My favorite coin recovery would have to be the 1854-O Half Dime in EF-40 condition. Not really that valuable but a wonderful looking Seated Variety coin. 

My friends all have hobbies like golfing, fishing and hunting. That's fine, but my hobby is the "Greatest Hobby in the World!" I leave home broke and come back with diamonds, gold, silver and some pocket change! Get yourself a Minelab Excalibur and find out what I'm excited about. 

There is WEALTH in the WATER! 

Doug B - Minnesota, USA

EXCALIBUR FINDS TREASURE

This is part of the treasure that I have harvested with my Minelab Excalibur and Sovereign. I have 12 more jars of rings, chains, bracelets and watches just like this. Before I discovered Minelab, I would find an occasional piece of jewellery. With Minelab detectors, it is not unusual for me to find five or six a day. My best day with the Excalibur produced 35 rings and almost 200 coins from a swimming hole. Recently, I started fresh water diving and I hope to repeat that experience many times. 

John Devine - Australia

EXCALIBUR REVEALS SEABED OF TREASURE

I have been scuba diving and fishing under water since I was 16 years old and metal detecting since I was 12 years old (for 34 years!). What's the point to this you may ask?

During a recent diving trip I found myself at a depth of roughly 12 metres, in pursuit of a big fish trying to hide itself in a rock, approximately 100 metres from the coast. However, my attention was quickly distracted by a round object, which looked to be covered in white sand. I abandoned the lucky fish and swam towards the base of the rock only to find an amphora neck (a type of ancient ceramic vase) resting on the seabed! I marked the coordinate and quickly swam back to the surface to get my breath back. I dived again, excited by my discovery, however, as I began to pull the amphora clear of the sand, I was disappointed to retrieve only a fragment of a broken amphora (the neck and its two handles). I picked up my treasure and put it on the Zodiac and dived back again. After several dives, I discovered another fragment of a broken amphora, smaller than the first find, in addition to, some pottery remains. 

The next day, armed with my faithful companion, the Excalibur 1000, I set out again for an adventure. Prospecting under water, without the luxury of an oxygen tank is a real sport, as you can only afford a minute or so under water before returning to the surface for air. In addition to this, the excitement affects your concentration and ability to go without oxygen, reducing your time under water. After fifteen counts of self-induced apnoea, allowing time only for few coil sweeps each time, the Excalibur 1000 began singing a melodious tune at approximately 1 metre above the seabed. It was indeed a strong and clear signal of a non-ferrous metal target. 

The target appeared to be enormous, but by decreasing the threshold and by setting the Discriminate / Pinpoint button on pinpoint mode, I was able to locate the target and mark its position with my dagger. I put back my Excalibur 1000 on the Zodiac and immediately dived again. Having neither a water sucker nor tools to dig the target, without the risk of damaging my find, I made fast movements with my hand around the top of the target, like a fan, to create a water flow to drive out the fine sand. Further movements of the hand uncovered a greenish object that appeared to be made of copper or oxidized bronze. 

Once I had returned to the surface, I found myself to be holding a bronze dish with engravings on its edge, which reminded me of a Greek style dish dating back to the early centuries A.D. After further investigation this under water location didn't bestow any further finds. It would seem that this particular place was in fact an occasional anchoring area for boats in the antiquity. Concerning this particular bronze dish, was it an ancient piece of work poorly made by a common cook? We will never know. We can say, however, that in the past navigators of sea vessels were not terribly concerned for the environment, although, to the contrary they make some fellows very happy today! 

Mr.OUZO - France

RINGS, RINGS, RINGS!

EXCALIBUR 1000

I've made about 5 trips to Florida over the past few months and I've found 15 gold rings in that short time. The last trip yielded 6 gold rings with the last one being a 1/3ct heart shaped diamond. This area of water has probably never been detected before. Add the fact that my Excalibur is still running flawlessly after five years and I feel like I'm unstoppable. With all of the nicks, bumps, and stickers fading and starting to bubble it's not much to look at but man will that thing find gold. I just run it with discrimination turned all the way down and the sensitivity at about 12 o'clock and it's almost a cake walk from there. I guess a little research and finding the low areas in the water didn't hurt either. With as many good things as I've heard about the Excalibur II series I'm just too attached to the one that I have now to upgrade. 

Keep up the good work.

Rick Poole - USA