Garret AT pro and the beach question

[Kype]

Will my AT pro work well at the beach? I keep getting mixed opinions. Some say yes it will, but only in the dry. What about the wet sand?

Couldn't i just ground balance the machine in the wet sand? Sorry if this is a stupid question but this is a new hobby of mine. Thanks!

 

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[BLK HOLE]

No stupid questions here my friend I asked essentially the same exact question 3 years ago! I have taken my AT Pro to the beach a few times, no issue what so ever on dry sand, was able to ground balance and find some stuff in the wet sand but it was chattery, have had zero luck in the surf. Now some of that I am sure is directly related to the capability of the operator. I don't get to take it to the ocean but once or twice a year and don't spend a tremendous amount of time detecting when I do so all I can say is swing away and have fun and if you find stuff awesome, if not, try to look cool

 

[Nevada Prospector]

I have used my AT Pro at some Oregon beaches and I've not the best results. It will work if I reduce the sensitivity a few notches in the wet sand. What I have noticed is that it depends on the beach. Dry sand is okay. The surf is really tough with all of the false hits. For the wet sand you really need a detector with more than one frequency or a pulse induction detector.

 

[tomhayes]

I guess it's related to the capability of the operator.

 

[RustyGold]

I guess it's related to the capability of the operator.

And the machine.

 

[RustyGold]

Welcome to the forum Tom. Best of luck!

 

[Opie]

kype, drop the sensitivity and ground balance often, tighten the coil cord a bit, and use a smaller coil in the surf. Too often people run the machine too hot anyway and with salt water being conductive the machine needs to be backed off, some cases backed way off. The surf will batter the coil and the coil cord so to prevent false hits use a smaller coil and make sure the surf can't more the coil cord. AT-Pro is not the preferred machine for this but will work. Use Pro mode Zero.
Good Luck!
Stay Gold!
Opie

 

[smokeythecat]

Welcome. I have not used this particular machine at a beach. One of my digging buddies has a devil of a time with it in the wet sand. The other guy has no issues at all with the wet sand. It must be in how the machine is set up. Other than, that, I don't know.

 

[dirtdigginfool]

I was going to display my (limited) knowledge of ATP beach detecting...but Opie covered all the bases. Follow that advice and you'll do ok...The ATP is definitely not a salt machine but I actually scrounged a few things out of that wet sand myself. Good luck! Ddf.