Nokta PulseDive Series Review, An Excellent Pinpointer, and Underwater Handheld Metal Detector.

Five years ago, in 2019, trying to limit what I packed for a month-long vacation, where I would be metal detecting daily, I bought a Nokta PulseDive, the 2-in-1 model. I felt it was a smart decision that I could use it for snorkeling in freshwater lakes and also use it as my main pinpointer when I am metal detecting relics. Pleasantly surprised, I loved it. Five years later, I still love it. Then three years ago, I got a second Nokta PulseDive Scuba Detector because I wanted to play with the bigger coil. I also loved it.

The PulseDive 2-1 model comes with a 5.5-inch coil, and the PulseDive Scuba Detector comes with an 8-inch coil.

Using them now for five years, in one way or another, the PulseDive is always with me if I am metal detecting, either as a pinpointer or as an underwater detector when I am snorkeling. From my experience, I have found the PulseDive Series reliable, durable, and an excellent choice for handheld underwater detectors or as a pinpointer.

I have also found that kids love them. I have let children, and teens use them at rivers, lakes, and beaches. They withstand kids’ abuse, and the kids feel like treasure hunters using them, running around looking for their treasures. It is an excellent way to get them off electronic screens, into nature, and learn about history and environmental issues, by seeing the trash that needs to be cleaned up as they find pull-tabs, tin cans, foil, and the occasional treasure.

PulseDive Engineering

The PulseDive Series is based on Pulse Induction Technology, running at 3kHz, making it very stable in salt water and mineralized soil. They are waterproof up to 200 feet and rated IP68. 

The PulseDive Buttons

• On-Off Button and Retune 
• (F) Button – Stands for Function
• (A) Button – Stands for Adjustment

PulseDive Detection Modes

Press the (F) button to change the mode. There are three detection modes:

• Audio
• Vibration
• Audio + Vibration

Vibration mode comes in handy when you are underwater detecting or when you are land detecting on a beach or park and don’t want to disturb people around you. 

In addition to the above detection modes, the PulseDive also has a red LED that indicates metal detection. When the red LED is activated, it flashes once upon metal detection, regardless of the mode used. As you get closer to the target, it flashes faster and more frequently. To turn on / off the red LED, press and hold the adjustment button (A). 

PulseDive Sensitivity

The PulseDive has five levels of sensitivity. To adjust the sensitivity, press the adjustment button (A) while holding the Function button (F) pressed down. Each time you press the (A) button, the sensitivity increases 1 level. Each level is indicated by a number of beeps and/or vibrations, depending on the mode used. For example, level 4 is indicated by four beeps and/or vibrations. At maximum sensitivity “level 5” the PulseDive makes a long beep and/or vibration. If the red LED is active, it lights up solid. 

When this is needed, it is in highly mineralized holes in sand and soil because the PulseDive may produce false signals. In such cases, the detectorists can reduce the sensitivity.

PulseDive LED Flashlight

There is also an LED Flashlight that helps to get visibility of the find when using it in deep holes as a pinpointer and when metal detecting at dusk or in the dark or using it in murky waters as a handheld underwater detector. To activate the LED Flashlight, press the adjustment button (A) once while the PulseDive is on. Press it again to turn it off.

PulseDive Dive Mode

For the underwater treasure-seeking scuba divers, there is a Dive Mode, which locks the keys and prevents them from being pressed by water pressure while deep diving.

To set it to Dive Mode, hold the PulseDive upside down (LEDs facing down) as shown in the picture and press the (A) and (F) buttons simultaneously. The green LED will light up and a beep will be heard and/or the PulseDive will vibrate depending on the mode used. If the red LED is on, it will also blink once.

While in Dive Mode, the buttons are locked and do not work. Therefore, make sure that the PulseDive is set to the desired settings before switching to Dive Mode. Recommended settings are vibration and the red LED to be on.

PulseDive Frequency Shift

The Frequency Shift is designed to be used to prevent the PulseDive from interfering with other metal detectors nearby. To shift the frequency, press the On-Off button while holding the (F) button pressed down. Each time you press the On-Of button, a beep will be heard, and/or the PulseDive will vibrate, then the frequency will shift 1 step. There are 40 steps in frequency shift. The central frequency, which is the factory default, is indicated by double beeps/vibrations.

PulseDive Lost Alarm

After 5 minutes of inactivity, the PulseDive makes an audible alarm, and the LED starts flashing. This is especially useful if you lose the PulseDive in murky rivers and lakes or get sidetracked and need to remember where you dropped it at the park, fields, or in the woods.

If you are using Nokta Wireless headphones, specifically the Nokta 2.4 GHz Green Edition Wireless Headphones, when the lost alarm gets activated while the PulseDive is connected to the wireless headphones, the audio is heard through the PulseDive, not on the headphones. 

Note: I always keep my pinpointer on a long lanyard. I have seen too many of my friends lose their pinpointers, and I would do the same if it wasn’t for the lanyard. Which is an easy thing to do when you are tired from retrieving a find and getting up.

PulseDive Retune

It is important to re-tune the PulseDive if you change the coils while the PulseDive is still on. To re-tune, just press the On-Off button.

The PulseDive automatically re-tunes itself when it is turned on. Therefore, keep the PulseDive away from metal objects while powering it on. 

It is recommended when metal detecting in wet sand on beaches or highly mineralized soil, to turn the PulseDive on by placing the search coil on the ground when turning on the PulseDive. This method will result in a slight loss of depth; however, it will provide a more stable signal. 

PulseDive Colors and Design

The PulseDive series comes in two colors: black and yellow. My preference is to purchase black models; however, serious underwater detectorists would probably want a yellow model. I like to be a bit incognito when I metal detect and not have blaring colors on me.

PulseDive Battery and Charging

The PulseDive uses a USB-Mini to charge. The charge time may vary depending on whether you are using a wall plug, power bank, PC or in your car. Chargers with less than 1 amp or older PC computers will take longer. In general, it takes around 2 hours. While charging, the red LED will light up solid. 

When the PulseDive battery is fully charged, the green and red LEDs will light up together. If there is any problem during charging, the green LED will start blinking. 

Battery Indicator to See Charge Level

When you turn on the PulseDive

• Battery Full – Red and green LEDs blink once.
• Battery Half Charged – Green LED blinks once
• Battery Is Depleted – Red LED blinks once, indicating it needs to be charged
• Battery is Completely Depleted – Red and green LEDs light up for 5 seconds for a short period of time. The PulseDive will continue to work, and then it will do one single beep and shut down.

Important Note About the PulseDive and Water Hunting

The 2-in-1model comes with two caps where you charge it, one with holes and one for water detecting. Make sure when beach detecting or water detecting, you have the right cap on, otherwise, the unit will flood and maybe never work again. I personally keep the water detecting cap on all the time and never use the cap with the holes.

Would I Recommend Buying a PulseDive?

Yes, definitely, I have owned my PulseDive for five years, and it works great using it as my main pinpointer. I also have other detectorist friends who are avid detectorists that use PulseDive’s as their main pinpointer and love them. For instance, one of my detectorist friends Rick Hunter, states, “I got mine PulseDive at the end of 2020, just after I got my Nokta Simplex. I wouldn’t buy a different pinpointer.” We both also agree the PulseDive’s build quality is excellent, and this is proven by seeing our detectorist friends using other branded pinpointers and seeing how often they are breaking and or being sent in for warranty work, as our PulseDive keeps working like a charm.