Can anyone help me with a new detector purchase i might be looking to make.
I may be asking about a unknown item here.
I live in arkansas but make at least one trip to the ocean each year.
I normally dont hunt water only maybe at the edge but would love to start hunting more around and even getting into and under water and doing some creek hunting and slow shallow rivers.
Do they make a detector that works really well on land as in water too?
You have to consider each location which are all totally different...land, fresh water and saltwater.
Most regular VLF single frequency detectors do well in dirt, any dry sand, freshwater wet sand and in the freshwater...most not so great in saltwater environments.
You can still use them there, have fun and even find a few things in the salty wet stuff but usually not really deep.
There are multiple frequency units like the Minelab Sovereign that many use in saltwater and work well, in the dirt too, but you have to learn the language of sound because of a lack of a screen.
The top end CTX is waterproof, has a screen and many use them in the dirt and in both kinds of water.
I have read posts from owners that have said they work well in saltwater and some that said they didn't work so good but there are all kinds of hunters out there with many skill levels and for sure I don't know the truth because I never used one anywhere.
In the lower priced range especially in freshwater the AT Pro is very popular because it is also waterproof and also pretty capable on land according to many owners.
A waterproof detector at this price point was a game changer and still one of the more popular units being sold right now but others are beginning to show up from different manufacturers both weatherproof and waterproof.
If you are planning on spending a decent amount of time in water, even just ankle deep streams, using units without at least some sort of protection can be risky...drop one in the water that isn't just for an instant and chances are you will now own a very expensive suddenly out of warranty doorstop.
As far as salt vs wet more seem to think in freshwater the Pro is great, in saltwater many varied opinions but most lean towards not so much.
Check out Aquachigger vids on YouTube for freshwater hunting experiences with the Pro.
Most successful veteran hunters that spend lots of time in both dirt and saltwater environments usually have more than one detector to hunt optimally in each type of site.
The dedicated saltwater hunters usually go for the specialized units that most don't usually take onto land sites except occasionally.
For an occasional trip to a saltwater beach I would think adding in the ability to hunt there optimally into your choice equation would be illogical, like buying a 500HP car to go on normal errands and everyday driving but spending the money to have all that power in case once a year you might, might get into a short street race and want a chance to win.
To sum up some multi frequency Minelabs might work for you everywhere but you need to learn them well, the CTX could too and it has a screen but you better have deep pockets.
Hunting on land and in freshwater a good bit the AT Pros are one of if not the most popular choices right now but other brands are gunning for them by coming out with their own duel environment units recently like the Whites MX Sport.
Pretty much you are pretty right on in your suspicions, the beast that is the absolute very best at doing everything in all kinds of sites and conditions and that absolutely every treasure hunter would love to have and could easily adapt to, (not mention afford), is mythical at this point, but a combination of a couple different ones usually satisfies and even just one might do the job as long as you know and understand its limitations.
