BEACH • RIVER • LAKE • SHALLOW-WATER HUNTING
Underwater Metal Detectors
Go beyond the shoreline with Garrett underwater and waterproof metal detectors built for wet sand, streams, lakes, rivers, and submerged recovery.
- 16 ftVortex submersion
- 10 ftAT Series submersion
- 20 ftPRO-POINTER SUBMERSION
SHOP WATERPROOF METAL DETECTORS
Built for the water. Ready for the land.
Choose advanced multi-frequency Vortex performance or the proven control and familiar audio of Garrett’s AT All-Terrain family. Every detector shown here is fully submersible—not merely equipped with a waterproof searchcoil.
MULTI-FREQUENCY • SUBMERSIBLE TO 16 FEET
Vortex Series
ENTRY VORTEX MODEL
Vortex VX5
Approachable multi-frequency performance with a single-tier Target ID display and four versatile search modes.
- Single and multi-frequency operation
- Compact, rechargeable platform
- Upgradeable as experience grows
BEACH-READY STEP UP
Vortex VX7
Adds Multi-Salt, Beach Mode, increased power, and a two-tier Target ID display for more demanding hunts.
- Multi-Salt for wet sand and surf
- Adjustable recovery speed
- Built-in Z-Lynk wireless
PROFESSIONAL VORTEX MODEL
Vortex VX9
The complete Vortex feature set with seven search modes, greater control, and three-tier MD-MF Target ID.
- Multi-Salt plus five single frequencies
- Three recovery-speed settings
- Thin Coins, Beach, and Fast modes
PROVEN VLF PERFORMANCE • SUBMERSIBLE TO 10 FEET
AT All-Terrain Series
MAXIMUM AT DEPTH
AT Max
Deep all-terrain performance with built-in Z-Lynk wireless and true All-Metal Mode.
Explore AT Max
GOLD PROSPECTING
AT Gold
High-frequency sensitivity and a compact coil for small gold in freshwater streams and mineralized ground.
Explore AT Gold
FAST TARGET SEPARATION
AT Pro
Responsive proportional audio helps reveal target size, shape, and depth in parks, streams, and shallow water.
Explore AT Pro
SIGNATURE EDITION
AT Max Jase Robertson
AT Max performance in a distinctive camouflage finish, paired with MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless headphones.
Explore Jase AT MaxWATERPROOF CONFIDENCE
Take the hunt where treasure gets lost.
Shorelines, swimming areas, river crossings, and creek beds naturally collect coins, jewelry, relics, and other metal targets. The best waterproof metal detector for your hunt depends on the water depth, mineralization, salt conditions, and the type of targets you hope to recover.
Garrett offers fully submersible detectors for wading, snorkeling, and shallow-water searching, plus waterproof pinpointers that help finish the recovery once a target is located. Always stay within the published depth rating for your detector and use compatible submersible headphones when the audio connection will go underwater.
KNOW BEFORE YOU SUBMERGE
How do underwater metal detectors work?
Waterproof detectors use sealed control housings, protected connections, and submersible searchcoils to transmit an electromagnetic field into the ground beneath the water.
Water-resistant
Built to handle light rain, splashes, or damp conditions. Water-resistant does not mean the control housing can be submerged.
Best rule: keep the control box above water.Waterproof searchcoil
The searchcoil and lower stem may enter the water, but the control housing may have a different rating and must remain dry.
Check the rating of the complete detector.Fully submersible
The complete detector can operate underwater to its stated depth rating when all seals, caps, and connections are correctly secured.
Vortex: 16 ft • AT Series: 10 ftWANT THE FULL BREAKDOWN?
Learn how coils, depth ratings, headphones, and saltwater conditions affect underwater detecting.COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
Choosing the right detector for the water
Start with the environment. Freshwater creeks, mineralized gold country, wet salt sand, and submerged swimming areas create different challenges for a detector.
| Detector family | Waterproof depth | Frequency approach | Strongest water use | Choose it when… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Series | 16 ft / 5 m | Single and simultaneous multi-frequency; VX7 and VX9 include Multi-Salt | Wet sand, surf, lakes, rivers, and mixed land-and-water hunts | You want modern target information, rechargeable power, and room to upgrade. |
| AT All-Terrain | 10 ft / 3 m | Model-specific single-frequency VLF performance | Freshwater, streams, creeks, shorelines, relics, coins, and natural gold | You prefer proven controls, responsive audio, and specialized model choices. |
Saltwater can create extra ground response. For wet salt sand and surf, choose a model with a dedicated Multi-Salt option—such as Vortex VX7 or VX9—and follow Garrett’s recommended ground-balance settings.
COMPLETE THE RECOVERY
Don’t forget your pinpointer.
A detector finds the target area. A waterproof pinpointer helps isolate the exact location in sand, gravel, mud, or a submerged recovery hole—reducing unnecessary digging and helping you retrieve the target faster.
Compare all Garrett PRO-Pointers
PRO-Pointer AT
Three sensitivity levels, Fast Retune, proportional audio and vibration, LED light, and a 360-degree detection area.
View PRO-Pointer AT
PRO-Pointer AT Z-Lynk
Connects with compatible Z-Lynk equipment so detector and pinpointer alerts can be heard through the same wireless headphones.
View Z-Lynk modelFOLLOW THE WATER
Where to use your underwater detector
Productive water hunts begin with human activity, natural collection points, or both. Research local rules and obtain permission before searching any beach, riverbank, park, or private property.
WET SAND • SURF • SWIM AREAS
Beaches
Search towel lines, entry points, low spots, cuts, and shallow water where jewelry and coins are frequently lost.
Plan a beach hunt
CROSSINGS • GRAVEL BARS • CREEK BENDS
Rivers and creeks
Slow water, bedrock cracks, gravel pockets, and old crossings can hold coins, relics, and naturally deposited metal targets.
Learn to read a river
BEDROCK • MINERALIZED GROUND • NATURAL GOLD
Gold hunting
Look for places where heavy material settles: inside bends, behind large rocks, below rapids, and in exposed bedrock crevices.
See where gold collectsQUICK ANSWERS
Underwater metal detector FAQ
Confirm the detector, headphones, connections, and accessories are rated for the depth and conditions of your planned hunt.
What’s the difference between waterproof and fully submersible?
“Waterproof” can describe one component—such as the searchcoil—or the complete detector. A fully submersible detector has a control housing, coil, stem, and secured connections designed to operate underwater to a published maximum depth. Always check the rating for the complete system.
Can I use these detectors in saltwater?
Yes, but saltwater creates stronger ground response than most freshwater environments. Vortex VX7 and VX9 include a dedicated Multi-Salt option for wet salt sand and surf. Rinse equipment with fresh water after saltwater use and follow the care instructions in the detector manual.
What depth rating do I need for diving?
Choose a rating deeper than the maximum depth you expect to reach, and never exceed the published limit. Garrett Vortex models are fully waterproof to 16 feet (5 meters), while Garrett AT Series detectors are fully waterproof to 10 feet (3 meters). These ratings suit wading, snorkeling, and shallow-water recovery rather than deep scuba diving.
Do I need waterproof headphones?
If the headphone connection or headphones will be submerged, use the compatible Garrett submersible headphones specified for your detector. Standard wireless signals do not travel effectively through water, and ordinary land headphones should not be submerged.
YOUR NEXT FIND MAY BE UNDERWATER
Choose a detector that can follow you in.
Compare Garrett’s fully submersible Vortex and AT models, then complete the recovery kit with a waterproof PRO-Pointer.