The Garrett AT PRO is the number one choice for many intermediate to advanced metal detectorists.  However, the AT PRO offers a standard mode that is suitable for beginners, making this an all around great metal detector for all levels of skill.  It is truly a metal detector you can grow with.  The AT PRO is a fully waterproof metal detector (up to 10 feet) and, with a manual ground balance function, can be used in any type of soil condition.  The metal detector features a large LCD display with 1-100 numerical readout, notch discrimination, and adjustable frequency.