JW Fishers Mfg. introduced a new underwater metal detector for 2017. The SAR-1 Search and Recovery metal detector was developed as a result of significant customer feedback and extensive product testing. This new detector was specially designed for use by public safety dive teams, law enforcement agencies and military units that need to locate metal objects in poor visibility underwater environments. The SAR-1 alterts the operator to the presence of metal by vibration which is transmitted through the handle. Even in zero visibility, the user can feel the intense vibration conducted through the detector’s handle and into the diver’s arm. In addition to vibration, the detector also has a high intensity LED display which is directly in front of the diver’s face and easy to see in all but the worst conditions.
Other key features of the SAR-1 are it’s “snareless” design with no external wires or cables, rugged construction, streamlined configuration, and bright yellow search coil which helps guide the operator to the target in low viz environments. The 8 inch search coil has excellent detection capability on a range of targets from small shell casings to weapons and explosive devices. Larger targets can be detected at more than 5 feet. The material between the search coil and the metal object does not affect the detector’s range. Whether detecting through air water, silt, sand, sand, mud, or rock, the detection range remains the same.
The SAR-1 was first introduced at the 2016 DEMA Show, the largest diving exhibition in the US, and a show attended by thousands of industry professionals including those working as law enforcement and public safety divers. Many teams expressed great interest in acquiring one of the new detectors as well as several FBI dive units. The new detector has identical performance characteristics to Fishers popular Pulse 8X detector, which was rated #1 by US Homeland Security in a comparison test of the top 8 underwater detectors on the market. TheSAR-1 not only appealed to the police and public safety divers at the show, a number of marine archaeologists and commercial diving companies were also excited about the possibility of using this new detector in their search operations.
The SAR-1 has rechargeable batteries which power the detector for up to 12 hours. Use the detector all day long, recharge overnight, and you’re ready for another full day of detecting. Unlike some manufacturer’s that void the warranty on their detectors if the housing is ever opened, Fishers allows batteries to be field replaceable by the customer should it ever be required. The SAR-1 comes with 120 volt AC and 12 volt DC battery chargers, and a heavy duty Cordura nylon carry bag.
