Metal Detector Advice

[Av8joker]

Hi All,

New member here and I need help in purchasing my first detector. I would like to have a detector that has the following features.....

land and well as fresh and salt water, not necessarily a completely submergeable model, but something where the detecting element can be submerged a few feet under the water

relatively sophisticated computer such that I won't be digging up tin cans or aluminum cans

something that can operate a couple feet deep under the water

Under $1,000

It's something that I have always wanted to do and believe it or not my wife and kids have taken an interest, so anyone that can offer me some advice on what make and model I should be looking for please let me know.

Thanks,
Av8Joker

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[ticm]

Well I'm glad you asked. That's a good question.

[bacusa]

I am relatively new to detecting, and have the Garrett Ace 350, and AT Pro. Both are very easy on the learning curve, and with the DD coil, both do a great job at discrimination. The AT pro is all- terrain: meaning land and water- you can get one for under $600. While the AT does have impressive Pro-Modes, and number read out to gain a target's conductivity (TID/ VDI), it does not have a "computer" screen. Learning the different tones in Pro-Mode has helped me dig ALOT less trash. My suggestion... Go to You Tube and watch the abundance of AT pro video's. Good luck.
p.s. You also have to get a pin-pointer.... It really helps!
BC

[Treasure_Hunter]

What your describing does not exist, closest to it is Minelabs 3030 but it's cost is twice your budget. Know this, most detector coils are waterproof so you can hunt shallow water, but one bad step or one slip and you own a $1000 paperweight, especially if your in salt water if you do not own a waterproof detector.

Your also dreaming if you think you can buy a detector that will allow you to only dig precious metals. Gold rings are mixed with other base metals and detecting is based on the conductivity of metal and aluminum is a very good conductor.

[Av8joker]

Thanks for the input. One of your esteemed members suggested a Garrett AT Pro....any thoughts on that ?

[Terry Soloman]

Thanks for the input. One of your esteemed members suggested a Garrett AT Pro....any thoughts on that ?

Great on land and in shallow fresh water. Not good in wet saltwater sand or saltwater, but can be "dumbed down" (lower your sensitivity and cut your depth in half) in saltwater so it doesn't false too much. You can get TWO machines for $1,000.00 - a great VLF and a waterproof PI. For instance, a Tesoro Cibola Tesoro Metal Detectors - Official company web site with metal detector models for treasure hunting land or water. , and a Tesoro Sand Shark Tesoro Metal Detectors - Official company web site with metal detector models for treasure hunting land or water. .

[Av8joker]

Thanks Terry. Is the Tesoro completely waterproof ? Also, neither you mentioned seems to have a visual output. Do you find that to be troublesome ?
Thanks,

[Av8joker]

Thank you very much !

[TNGUNS]

I do not own an AT Pro but hear great things about them. Just sticking my nose in to let you know that you will dig trash with any detector and lots of it. As a matter of fact you need to dig every signal you hear until you start getting an idea of target sound. The discriminator will get you around a large percentage but not all of it. Lots of times iron will give kind of a grunt when you pass just the front of the coil near the target and so on. Trying to describe it is like telling someone what chocolate taste like that has never tried it. You just can't do it. With some practice you will learn that a faint, smooth, repeatable sound will get you smiling in a hurry. Some things you dig will sound very similar to trash if they are at the max depth of the machine. Todays detectors are great about getting you thru most of the junk but iron and aluminum are still gonna fool the best out there some of the time.

[Av8joker]

Thanks TN Guns. I am expecting a learning curve for sure. I am not quitting my day job to do this, I'm just exploring a way to have some fun with the family. We travel a lot and we could do this almost anywhere. There are only so many museums and art galleries you can visit and we don't care for amusement parks. I really appreciate the input.

[rossman85]

I'm pretty new to detecting myself, but I think that I agree with TerrySolomon, with $1000 I would get a tesoro cibola(or vaquero), and a tesoro tiger shark.... I personally would want a tiger shark if I really got into fresh water detecting....just not yet for me. I have a tesoro, and I don't mind not having a screen, but I never had one, so I can only give a one-sided opinion.