By Steve Hathcock
Summer is here, and thanks in part to the popularity of treasure-hunting television shows, metal detecting continues to grow as a hobby. As a result, I regularly receive questions from visitors and residents interested in searching the beaches of South Padre Island.
One recent inquiry came from Keren, who wrote:
“I’ve been researching metal detecting and was wondering if you could recommend a good detector for beginners. I’m looking for something easy to use with a broad range of abilities that can detect reasonably deep targets. I plan on using it on both dry and wet sand, and I may accidentally get it wet. What brands or models would you recommend?”
Thanks for the question, Keren. I’ll do my best to answer it.
My first piece of advice is simple: buy a detector from someone who can answer your questions.
My first detector was a Garrett ACE 150, purchased from a local hobby shop. While I received a fair deal, the owner wasn’t a detectorist himself and couldn’t help me solve problems caused by the highly mineralized sand found on South Padre Island.
Later, while traveling through North Texas, I stopped at Garrett Metal Detectors’ headquarters in Garland. After explaining my difficulties, several employees took the time to help me understand my machine and improve its performance.
One gentleman spent considerable time teaching me the basics of metal detecting, including how to use the ACE 150 more effectively. He also explained important ethics and regulations regarding metal detecting in Texas and showed me displays of artifacts and treasures recovered with Garrett machines.