Gear guide
Waterproof pinpointers and their water ratings
For wading, the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT and the XP MI-6 share the deepest pointer rating on file. Garrett gives IP68 to 20 ft (6 m), and XP 6 m. For scuba, Nokta's PulseDive converts to a pointer and is rated IP68 to 200 ft (60 m).
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The picks
Four handheld probes in order of the water rating their makers publish, then Nokta's PulseDive dive set. The MI-6 facts were checked at a detecting dealer on Oct. 17, 2026.
1. Garrett Pro-Pointer AT
Garrett rates it IP68 to 20 ft (6 m). It runs on a 9 V (included) battery and has 3 levels of sensitivity and a built-in light.
2. XP MI-6
XP gives the same figure in meters, 6 m, on a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. It has a wireless link to the XP Deus, Deus II and ORX.
3. Minelab Pro-Find 35
Minelab rates it to 10 ft (3 m), with 20 h of runtime and 5 levels of sensitivity.
4. Minelab Pro-Find 15
Minelab rates it to 5 ft (1.5 m), the shallowest here. It has the longest published runtime of the five, 30 h, on a 9 V PP3 (not included).
5. Nokta PulseDive
For dives deeper than the other pointers here are rated: IP68 to 200 ft (60 m). It converts from scuba detector to pinpointer, and it can signal by vibration.
Sold as a 2-in-1 set: the listing names the scuba detector and pointer with a 5.5-inch scuba coil, which Nokta sells separately.
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Side by side
The same facts for every pick, read on each maker's page. Open a model for its full spec sheet.
| Model | Waterproofing | Battery | Battery life | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Pro-Pointer AT | 20 ftPinpointer, IP68, 6 m | 9 V (included) | Not published | 6.5 oz0.2 kg |
| XP MI-6 | 6 mPinpointer | Rechargeable lithium polymer | Not checked | 6 oz170 g |
| Minelab Pro-Find 35 | 10 ftPinpointer, 3 m | 9 V PP3 (included) | 20 h | 6.6 oz188 g |
| Minelab Pro-Find 15 | 5 ftPinpointer, 1.5 m | 9 V PP3 (not included) | 30 h | 6.5 oz184 g |
| Nokta PulseDive | 200 ftDetector, IP68, 60 m | 1650 mAh lithium polymer (about 2 h to charge) | Not published | 19.4 oz550 g |
Facts from the pages of Garrett, XP, Minelab and Nokta, read Oct. 16, 2026.
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How to choose
A depth, not just IP68
IP68 alone does not give a figure. Nokta pairs it with 10 ft on the AccuPoint, and Garrett with 20 ft on the Pro-Pointer AT. Pick a unit rated for more water than you stand in.
Battery you swap, or one you charge
Both Minelab probes and the Garrett take a 9 V battery. The MI-6 and the PulseDive charge instead, the PulseDive in about 2 h. With a 9 V, carry a spare. With a pack, charge it before you leave.
Runtime on file
Of the five picks, only the Minelab probes list one: 30 h for the Pro-Find 15 and 20 h for the Pro-Find 35. Garrett and Nokta give no hours for theirs, and we have not checked one for the MI-6.
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What to know before you buy
A water rating says where the unit can go, not how far it senses a target. We promise no detection range, as our depth guide explains.
Nokta's AccuPoint is rated IP68 to 10 ft (3 m) and lists 25 h of runtime. We found no Amazon listing for it that we could link on Oct. 16, 2026, so it has no button here.
We left out pointers whose listing title says IP68 with no figure in feet or meters. This guide ranks by that figure.
We checked the sellers on Oct. 17, 2026. Third-party sellers held the Buy Box on the Garrett and Minelab probes, and a detecting dealer on the MI-6 and PulseDive. Copies of brand-name pointers exist, so check the seller before you pay.
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Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
Of the dedicated pointers on file, two share 6 m: the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT, given as 20 ft, and the XP MI-6. The PulseDive set, which also works as a pointer, is rated to 200 ft (60 m).
Only within its rating. The dedicated pointers here stop at 6 m, about 20 ft, while Nokta rates the PulseDive IP68 to 200 ft (60 m).
Minelab rates it to 5 ft (1.5 m), the shallowest rating of the five. For deeper water, the Pro-Find 35 is rated to 10 ft (3 m).
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