Check my thinkin' (long)

That AT Pro will struggle in the salt water. You really want a dual or multi frequency machine. But that's even more money than the ATP if you buy new.

I'd look at a good used Beach Hunter from White's (it's a DFX in a waterproof housing good to 25 feet basically) or an Excalibur. You should be able to find a GOOD used Excal for the price of a NEW AT Pro. Either one will be better than the AT Pro in the water. And while they don't have a VDI display, for me that doesn't matter. I hunt land with my Sovereign Elite (which is basically the same machine as an Excal in a NOT waterproof housing).

Don't forget, you'll need a decent scoop as well for the beach.

Unfortunately the AT Pro is a Single-Frequency VLF detector. There are different metal detectors designed for fresh- or, salt- water use. For instance, a "VLF" or very low frequency type metal detector works extremely well on dry sand and in fresh water. It does not work as well in saltwater, or on wet ocean-water beaches. In highly conductive saltwater conditions pulse induction or "PI," and multi-frequency VLF "BBS" metal detectors excel.

The VLF metal detector sends 4,000 - 80,000 radio waves (sine waves) per-second into the ground. When the radio waves hit something conductive - like an iron nail, gold ring, coin or aluminum pull-tab, a magnetic field sets up around the object and a particular signal frequency is transmitted back to the detector's receiving coil. VLF metal detectors have the ability to "discriminate," or tell what type of metal they are seeing by "reading" the return signal frequency.

An iron nail for example, has a different frequency than a silver coin. The processor in the metal detector knows the difference between the two, and can be set to remain silent when seeing the nail. However, the radio waves bounce off everything that is conductive in the sand or water. This is why VLF detectors must be "ground balanced" to work effectively in highly mineralized soil, or on highly conductive saltwater beaches.

You must tune or adjust the machine to see through the "fog," or white-noise created by the salt and iron in the sand or water you are detecting. Unfortunately, this usually leads to a loss of depth and stability with most VLF detectors like the AT Pro.

It will work GREAT on dry sand, dirt and fresh water. Good Luck!

Great post, Terry!

Thanks for the feedback. Any other comments are welcome. I have a lot to learn!

You'll love the AT pro. It takes some work to get it set up for salt water/wet sand detecting but can be done. On the dry sannd no problems. I allso detect here in VA., parks, schools, houses. and really like my AT Pro

Well, everyone has you on the right track here but looks like you are going to have to spend to get two machines or go with one and not be able to hunt everywhere that is available to you. For land use, parks, homesites and freshwater you are looking at an AT Pro or AT gold. Minus the freshwater then any non-waterproof VLF detector would work. For wet salt sand and in the ocean you will need a multifrequency detector or a PI (pulse induction) unit. There is just not a do it all detector that will meet your needs or price range except for the Minelab CTX3030 but be ready to spend $2,000 give or take for new or used but it will do all the above. We are getting there with detectors, unfortunately the one that can do it all is out of the price range of very many.

Seanpaul said:

Well, everyone has you on the right track here but looks like you are going to have to spend to get two machines or go with one and not be able to hunt everywhere that is available to you. For land use, parks, homesites and freshwater you are looking at an AT Pro or AT gold. Minus the freshwater then any non-waterproof VLF detector would work. For wet salt sand and in the ocean you will need a multifrequency detector or a PI (pulse induction) unit. There is just not a do it all detector that will meet your needs or price range except for the Minelab CTX3030 but be ready to spend $2,000 give or take for new or used but it will do all the above. We are getting there with detectors, unfortunately the one that can do it all is out of the price range of very many.

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I knew it was too easy. Am I correct in assuming it is no better trying to make a beach detector work well in all the other dry applications?

Im off topic but what part of va dies ur family live in

VA-au-hunter said:

Im off topic but what part of va dies ur family live in

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Southwestern tip - over in the mountains.

JoeBill said:

I knew it was too easy. Am I correct in assuming it is no better trying to make a beach detector work well in all the other dry applications?

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I hear the Sovereign units by Minelab work great on wet salt and on land use but don't have first hand experience, sorry. I suppose you could use a Minelab excal for land hunting if you really, really wanted to. Again, maybe others could chime in. By the way, I have read there are mods to make the Sovereign waterproof so that is a thought. Also the Whites Beach Hunter 300 but land use may be questionable. Either way, if you cringed about the cost of the AT Pro, then the Sovereign or Excal will set you back even more. I'm not trying to be discouraging but you pick the tool for the job and in your case, looks like you are looking at a couple detectors.