3 Popular Oak Island Metal Detector Devices Used On The Show

Suppose you can’t get enough of the treasure hunting adventures on The Curse of Oak Island. In that case, you are likely wondering what Oak Island metal detector equipment these treasure chasers trust to uncover the mysteriously lost relics that keep them hunting throughout the year. Using the right equipment can mean the difference between finding a priceless artifact and a whole bunch of nothing. 

Most of the time, the Oak Island metal detector devices Rick and Marty Lagina trust while relic hunting is made by Minelab™. Using the latest metal detecting equipment from Minelab and other professional, high-quality machines like the OKM eXp is how the brothers uncover some of the Oak Island’s mysteries after so many years in the dark. 

If your treasure hunting interest is piqued and you want to know more about the Oak Island metal detector equipment used to find ancient relics and lost treasures in Nova Scotia, continue reading. 

The Oak Island Metal Detector Fascination

There are many reasons to get excited about the Nova Scotian island, especially if you are obsessed with history and finding lost treasure. The lure of finding famous valuable treasures on Oak Island is vast and has expanded for centuries.

There are several theories of what is lurking around Oak Island, most of them rather fantastic. Some say that it’s the treasures of Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, or Sir Francis Drake. Others say that the Cathars or Knights Templar’s treasures ended up there.kellycodetectors.com

As children, the Lagina brothers read about the Oak Island treasure hunt in Reader’s Digest. Their fascination continues to this day.

I was reading a book about treasures as a boy. When I first read about Oak Island, I clearly remembered reading about pirate treasure. That’s why I have to pinch myself sometimes. I read about this as a boy in England, and now I’m here on Oak Island.history.com

Oak Island’s history is rich in mystery, with stories of treasure going back as far as the late 1700s. The earliest recorded account of buried treasure (the Money Pit) on Oak Island is said to be worth around two million dollars at the time of its burial. It only gets more exciting and mysterious from there. 

The Curse of Oak Island, discoveries have included manmade structures that pre-date the Money Pit, evidence of wooden casks, a gemstone brooch dating to the 16th century, a Spanish coin from the 1650s, and a 14th-century lead cross, among others.history.com

There are said to be at least 12 different kinds of treasures hidden in the depts of Oak Island, which consist of: 

  • An ancient Coptic pit
  • British imperial treasures
  • Freemason artifacts
  • Marie Antoinette’s jewels
  • Money from Fort Louisbourg
  • Pirate treasure
  • Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts
  • Sinkholes
  • Spanish Naval treasure
  • Tarpit
  • The Holy Grail and The Ark of the Covenant
  • Viking Ship

Source: history.co.uk

The possibility of uncovering these treasures and the mysteries attached to them attracted Rick and Marty Lagina to begin excavation of Oak Island and how the hit television show The Curse of Oak Island came to be. 

Now that you know what fascinates treasure hunters about this mysterious place, it is also helpful to know the Oak Island metal detector equipment the hunters use to find the treasures in this location. 

What Metal Detector Is Used On Oak Island?

The three Oak Island metal detectors used by the Lagina brothers are the Minelab CTX 3030, SDC 2300, and the OKM eXp 6000 Professional Plus. Without these high-tech devices, they may not have been as successful in their endeavors. 

Below is a guide and overview for each of the three metal detectors the treasure hunters use on Oak Island. The CTX3030 and SDC 2300 are powerful in their own right; however, the OKM eXp 6000 is in a league of its own.

The 3 Primary Oak Island Metal Detectors Used On The Show

Minelab™ CTX 3030

If you want to hunt like the pros on The Curse of Oak Island, then the Minelab CTX 3030 is a great place to start. Although this equipment comes at a price, the quality is top-notch and comes with everything you need to get your relic hunting adventures operational and successful. 

Never get lost or go over the same spot twice with the handy built-in GPS and easy-to-view color screen. The high-tech, easy-to-use features will make it difficult for you to put it down at the end of the day.

minelab CTX 3030 metal detector

Additional features and accessories of the Minelab CTX 3030 include: 

  • 17″ DD Smart coil
  • 25 – 30 hour battery life
  • 36″ T-handle shovel
  • It comes with a GPS for tracking your finds, so you know where you have been and where you still need to explore
  • Double lens magnifying glass
  • Hat, gloves, and kneepads
  • Metal detector with wireless headphones
  • Minelab Pro-Find 35 Pinpointer
  • It offers a full LCD color display for easy viewing
  • Offers adjustable modes for different depts and metals
  • Retractable brass for finding brush
  • Sifter finds pouch

Minelab SDC 2300

minelab sdc 2300 metal detector

When the crew on Oak Island needs a lightweight and compact device, they use Minelab’s SDC 2300. In addition to its conveniently small size, it is also waterproof and considered a high-performance, mid-range gold detector on dry land or under the water. 

Look no further than this versatile and high-quality ground scanner for an easy-to-use metal detector that comes assembly-free. 

minelab sdc 2300

Additional features and accessories of the Minelab SDC 2300 include: 

  • Comes assembly free
  • It comes with a coil and smart charger
  • Easy-to-use
  • It folds down for easy and compact storage
  • Great for use in remote places
  • Includes eight different modes 
  • Includes headphones
  • Made of high-quality military-grade materials
  • Small size and lightweight
  • Uses MPF technology
  • Waterproof up to 10 feet deep

OKM™ eXp 6000 Professional Plus

okm exp 6000 metal detector

Welcome to the world’s first 3D ground scanner. If you want to explore the underworld in style like the crew on Oak Island, this top-of-the-line metal detector will blow your mind with its virtually endless capabilities. 

This dynamic and powerful machine is controllable using several features thanks to ultramodern technology. A device of this caliber may cause you to take out a small mortgage; however, if you are a serious treasure or relic hunter, it will be worth every penny, literally and figuratively speaking. 

okm 3d scanner

Source: okmdetectors.com

Additional features and accessories of the OKM eXp 6000 Plus include: 

  • A wide variety of sensors
  • Can be controlled wirelessly by: 
    • Android glasses
    • Smart device
    • Touch screen
  • It comes with a 12 language multilingual control unit
  • Features six operation modes
  • GPS capabilities
  • Lightweight (2.98lbs)
  • Telescopic rod assembly
  • USB port for transferring data to your personal computer
  • World’s first 3D ground scanner

If you watch The Curse of Oak Island, you may be familiar with Gary Drayton. To learn about Gary and the Oak Island metal detector equipment he prefers, continue reading. 

Gary Drayton on Oak Island – What Equipment is He Using?

Gary Drayton is an English treasure hunter who began his early days’ mudlarking. He has since evolved to become a world-known treasure hunter who guides treasure hunting tours and frequents the likes of Oak Island and the never-ending search for buried treasure.

Gary may now live a glamorous life in the United States, but he got started as a humble mudlark on the riverbanks and coasts of England. It meant getting knee-deep in Victorian trash pits for young Gary, rooting around for bottles and clay pipes dating back several centuries.history.co.uk

Gary has come a long way from his early treasure hunting days as a youth. He has made a successful life and career, successfully finding valuable treasures, including on Oak Island.

The Gary Drayton Metal Detector From Oak Island

When Gary is at Oak Island, he prefers to use his Minelab CTX 3030 and the Pro-Find 35 pinpointer.

gary drayton oak island metal detector finds

I took several Minelab metal detectors to Oak Island to help me in my quest. The main treasure hunting equipment I used during the show’s filming was my versatile CTX 3030 with several different size search coils and the PRO-FIND 25 pinpointer.minelab.com

Gary uses other Minelab detectors for hunting Oak Island treasures, or as he calls them, bobby dazzlers such as the OKM eXp 6000. However, due to the sophistication of the machine, a bit of training was necessary with KellyCo experts.

gary drayton oak island metal detector

First, instructions on the detector and comprehensive training with KellyCo were essential for the crew to continue their quest and the filming without delay. The application of the eXp 6000 is easy to learn. However, intensive training was necessary to use the professional 3D ground scanner immediately and achieve results fast. okmdetectors.com

The training in Florida was essential to help ensure efficient use once the detector arrived on Oak Island for use. Below is a brief clip of Gary Drayton explaining how to choose the best metal detector for hunting treasure.

Oak Island Metal Detector Success Results From Using Reliable, High-Quality Equipment

As you can see, quality equipment is synonymous with the best finds when it comes to scanning for treasures below the surface. The pros at Oak Island have likely tested most of the metal detecting equipment on the market, and they keep coming back to Minelab and OKM products for productive hunts. 

To further review the products or explore your options, revisit the links above to research the Oak Island metal detector equipment.