Hey Bob and welcome to the group. First off let me say that I have been detecting off an on for 25 years and I have never run into any one better to deal with than Tony at TCMETALDETECTORS.com known here as TonyinCT. Can't go wrong with him period for helping you come to a decision.
When making the decision choose about 2 or 3 models and read the reviews then give Tony a call and the will then give you the pros and cons of each after that choose the best on for your task. I will give you a couple of machines to start with based on my research. All the machine here will be pretty deep
Minelab Soverign GT- BBS(Broad Band Spectrum) technology It will allow you to search on dry land, dry sand, and wet sand moving from one to the other right after the other with no adjusting for ground. This machine has 17 frequencies to anyalize, to go slow for better results. (My pick) So many frequencies means increased chances to find as wider variety of stuff. It is very deep and accurate.
Tereso TigerShark- Also good for the land as well as the water. Water proof to 200 ft Has both a salt mode and a normal mode for everything else. About 600.00 and has a lifetime warrenty. Is good with small gold.
Whites MXT and M6- Both are really good machines for the land and dry sand, although could react to the wet sand due to salt. If your not going to the beach much one of these is hard to beat. Great all around.
Garrett ACE 250- The perferred unit for beginners, great machine and very accurate, as well as underpriced at 212.00. Hunts dry sand as well as the land, but keep it out of the wet stuff, it'll go crazy with false readings.
Terseo Cibola-Great machine deeper than the ACE but with a lifetime warrenty. Light , fast and accurate and the ground balance is set. Treat it as you would the Ace. A little over 300.00. Great all around
