Interview – Anfibio Multi Tips with Siren Kimmie

One of Focus Speeds’ readers asked if we could publish some tips for Anfibio Multi users. I contacted Dilek Gönülay, Director of Sales and Marketing at Nokta Makro, and asked her who is one of the best with the Anfibio Multi, she suggested Siren Kimmie.

Siren Kimmie has been metal detecting for around 10 years, she started off using various machines such as Garretts and Fishers then graduated to using Nokta Makro machines. She now uses these exclusively, favoring the Anfibio Multi, Multi Kruzer, and the Simplex. Kimmie is on the Nokta Makro’s Nomads Team, residing in the United States, and detecting in and around North and South Carolina.

How long have you used the Anfibio Multi and what are some of your notable finds?
I received the Anfibio Multi in 2018.  There is a fun story behind that actually. I had been looking for a machine to “up my game” as it were.  I was looking at all of the metal detectors available that would suit a relic hunter and coin shooter.  Up until that point, I had been a Garrett user and played around with the Fisher F75 SE a bit.  I had really “become one” with my ATPro and thoroughly believed that no other machine would match its separation.  I was in the market for a “deep seeker”.  I liked what I was seeing with that Fisher, and wanted something that could offer that sort of depth.  I was certain this new machine would be my deep field and woods hunter, and that the ATPro would remain my all around machine.  With a few new options on the market, I began looking at what was available and I narrowed it down to Nokta Makro, based on their reputation as deep seekers.  I also tend to “vote with my wallet” so to speak, so I researched the company and liked what I saw as far as customer service and marketing practices.  Right around this time, I was a guest on Mike Haer’s All Metal Mode podcast.    He had indicated that Nokta Makro was looking to do a commercial and suggested to Dilek (Director of Sales and Marketing at Nokta Makro) that I should be the voice for this advertisement.  As it turned out, Dilek offered me “payment in product.”  Call it fate, blind luck, whatever the case may be, I was able to do a bit of work to earn the machine I had been coveting; the Anfibio Multi.

As I mentioned before, I was expecting the Anfibio Multi would fit into my arsenal strictly as a deep relic hunter. I truly believed, in my heart of hearts, the ATPro was unmatched with regard to separation. This is what happens when you become stubborn in your viewpoint and are unwilling to investigate other possibilities. The Anfibio taught me this valuable lesson right out of the gate. My first test hunt was in a location I had pounded with my ATPro. It was a quick dig on my lunch hour so I was not expecting anything epic. In that 15-minute span, using Deep mode no less, two of my first signals completely blew my mind. The first was a silver dime resting above a big piece of rusty iron. The second was an Indian Head Penny modified into a button (pictured below) resting immediately next to a stainless steel needle. The Anfibio picked these masked items out of that pounded ground with ease. I was a believer! The Anfibio is not just a deep seeking machine; it has amazing separation. The ATPro was instantly retired (with honors for all the years it had served me well) and the Anfibio Multi became my new all-around machine. And I have had great success with it, including a diamond ring, my first Barber Dime, a rare local token, and a huge bucket list item; a Civil War Sword Belt Plate.

Thanks to my enthusiasm and success with the Anfibio (and that great reference from Mike); Notka Makro approached me with an offer to join their field team, the NOMADS. I had never considered being “sponsored” by a manufacturer before, and had actually turned down opportunities in the past. However, I was just as impressed with Nokta Makro as I was with the Anfibio, so I decided to go for it. Since then, I have had the opportunity to test out a great majority of their products and have been so pleased with this decision. I have been fortunate to partner with this company when they were just dipping their toes into the waters here in the United States. I am proud to have been a part of their growth and enjoyed watching them earn the respect of detectorists around the world by way of a great line of products and excellent customer support.

See Below Some of My Notable Metal Detecting Finds with the Anfbio

Anfibio Coils

Which coils are your favorite to use with the Anfibio Multi and why?
I prefer the KR24 for home sites, parks, or anywhere that has a lot of trash.  That thing picks through the rubble and pulls out the treasures.  I will pop the stock coil (AF28) back on for the fields or in the woods when the pine straw makes the finds that much deeper. 

Anfibio Multi Setting

Around the metal detecting forums for the Anfibio Multi, it is suggested to detect in 3 tones, however, some argue 4 or 5 tons and some 99 tons. How many tones do you detect in? 
It truly does depend on where I am detecting and what items I am hoping to find.  I am mostly a relic hunter, so whether I am hunting an old home site, a big field, or in the woods, where there is a deep layer of pine straw and organic debris, I want to go as deep as possible.  In these instances, I will generally run Deep Mode.  I have also been known to pop into GEN Delta on a super quiet field.  If I am detecting a hunted out home site, I may use 2-Tone or 3-Tone to get a bit more depth.  In those locations, a lot of the trash has already been cleared, so I will try to eke out those deeper targets that have been overlooked by using faster programs.

When it comes to home sites or parks where there is a lot of trash, I tend to go with 5-Tone or 99-Tone where I really want to hear as many signals as possible.  The thing with these modes that have more tones is, you really have to train your ear and learn how to “wiggle your coil” to isolate each signal.  They will do you no good if you are whipping through and not really listening to what the machine is telling you.  Because these modes are faster, you are not going to go as deep, which brings me back to my point about going over sites after you have cleared them out some.  You can try to hit it again with 3-Tone, or even 2-Tone depending on how much trash is still there.

I might even switch between modes to check a target.  If I am running 2-Tone and I am getting a lot of jump in a signal, I may pop into 5-tone to see if I am dealing with multiple items, like a nail masking a good target.

I do not really use 4-Tone because I always seem to be in a one-or-the-other situation; being a trashy site or a quiet field where the other modes are better suited for my situation.   

What do you feel is the best Anfibio Multi setting for parks?
It really depends on how trashy the park is.  I have been at some really hunted out parks that are not as “busy” as other parks so I might hit them at 2 or 3-Tone. Generally speaking, in trashy parks I prefer to detect using 5-Tone to get more information, yet keep that extra bit of depth than offered by 99-Tone.

What do you feel is the Anfibio Multi best setting for plowed fields?
If it is a quiet field, I am going to go with Gen Delta.  If I am finding bits of trash here and there, I will wind up in 2-Tone.

What do you feel are the best settings using the Anfibio Multi on beaches?
I am not close to the beach, so I do not do an awful lot of beach detecting. The best scenario if you are dealing with saltwater beaches and wet sand is to ground balance to 0 in Beach Mode and then run another deep mode like 2-Tone or Gen Delta.  However, I would defer to someone with a little more experience in this area.

Do you have any other tips for our readers on other settings to consider for the Anfibio Multi?
My BIGGEST piece of advice is to take your time and learn the machine.  Try not to fiddle with too much right off the bat.  Take it out of the box, pick a mode based on the above scenarios, and then get out there and dig every single target.  This is the best way to learn the machine’s language.  You will start to hear the subtle differences in what aluminum sounds like over a coin.

Perfect your technique.  I have seen so many end-users struggle with a machine because they have not developed the subtle nuances of detecting.  Simple tricks like lifting the coil off the ground as you swing to hear how quickly the tone drops off to determine if the target is large.  Moving the coil away from you as you swing to see if the target “scratches out on the edges.”  Swinging the coil from each direction all around the target to see if there are any changes in the tone to help determine if you are dealing with trash or treasure.  Learning how to “hone in” on a target to separate it out from another nearby target by wiggling your coil over each tone.  There is so much that goes into what you do physically to make you a better detectorist and get the most out of your machine.

Also, take some time to learn what the different detecting terms mean.  If you do not understand what sensitivity does, or how setting it to low or too high can work for or against you, then you have no business adjusting your gain. The same principle applies to all of the other settings.  Knowledge is power!

Purchasing a Used Anfibo

If someone was looking at a used Anfibo what should they look at before buying one to make sure it is a good purchase? For example, what areas are weak and can break and should they be cautious when buying a secondhand one.
I personally would not purchase a used machine.  This is just my preference.  I do not know the history of the detector, if it has been in for repairs after being damaged that might cause problems in the future; or if the end user has done something that has voided the warranty (which I might not know until it comes the time that I may need to invoke the warranty for myself). 

If you are going to buy a used machine, make sure you have a good reference for the person you are buying from and verify the warranty. Have them show you proof of purchase and make sure it is sufficient when it comes to warranty issues.  Never buy a machine that has no remaining warranty or a short warranty window, unless you are okay with losing out on the money you’ve spent if it goes bad within a few months or weeks after purchase.  Balance your risk with the potential cost of repairs versus buying a new detector. 

That being said, I am SUPER hard on my machines.  They have been dropped, stepped on, tossed in the back of the truck, and accidentally had other things thrown on top of them.  I have not had a single thing break on my Nokta Makro detectors.  They are built tough.  The only thing I have damaged was my Pulse Dive pinpointer, and that was because I loaned it to someone who attempted to put the waterproof cover on the wrong way, causing the connection points to separate.  Totally a user error.  Point is, the Anfibio is a solid tank of a machine. 

Anfibio Multi Coils & Accessories

Do you recommend any of the aftermarket coils for the Anfibio Multi, such as the Nel Sharpshooter?
I have not had any experience with the aftermarket coils because Nokta Makro has a full line of coils available.  With the Anfibo you can use the Kruzer coils as well, so you are looking at a wide array of options from a 5” puck-sized coil up to a 13.5” x 13” monster.  There are also two different sized concentric coils (the 7” and 9” round coils).  I’m not sure what other options would be needed in an aftermarket situation. 

Do you recommend any after-market shafts for the Anfibio Multi?
I really have not seen a need for this either.  The stock coil has been sufficient for me.  One of the main reasons I love the Anfibio is the collapsible stem.  However, one thing I would probably change if I had the option, is to do away with the adjustable arm cuff.  While I totally appreciate the ability to move it to a better position (being a short person), once it was set I have never felt a need to mess with it.  I feel that it adds a bit of unnecessary weight when every ounce matters.  With my other Nokta Makro machines, I have simply removed the screws, positioned the arm cuff where I wanted it and screwed it back into place.  Done and done.  I had actually been toying around with getting the Kruzer shaft and swapping it for this reason.

Do you recommend any other Anfibio Multi accessories?
Yes, there are two things that I love.  First is the spare battery case.  There was one occasion where I pulled a rookie mistake and forgot to put my detector on the charger.  I popped that battery pack on and was good to go for my hunting day.  If you have this for no other reason than peace of mind, it is totally worth it.  The other item is the EZ Wander.  This little gem connects wirelessly to the detector and allows you to attach any wired headphones to it.  You may be wondering, with the wireless headphones offered, why I would want to introduce wires back into the mix.  Well, let me tell you, in the hot North Carolina summers I cannot tolerate having headphones on.  Even headphones as light as those offered for the Anfibio.  It is just too much.  In the summer months, I clip the EZ Wander inside the waistband of my pants, then run a set of earbuds through the inside of my shirt and out the top at the collar to my ears.  This keeps my wires all under my clothes.  Then I pair the EZ Wander to the Anfibio and I have “wireless” in-ear sound without having to deal with bulky, sweaty headphones.

Also, I suggest Diggers Den (DDDetectors.com) for anyone interested in purchasing a new metal detector or accessories. Diggers Den is my own personal trusted dealer (who I used back before I became a Nokta Makro Nomad).  Be sure to tell him Siren Kimmie sent you or use SirenK at check out to receive free shipping! 

I would like to thank Siren Kimmie for her detailed answers about the Anfibio Multi. You can follow her at:

• Siren Kimmie Adventures on YouTube
• Siren Kimmie Adventures on Facebook
• @SirenKimmie on TikTok
• SirenKimmie on Instagram