I am visiting my son in queens ny and went out to rockaway beach yesterday. I took my xterra 70, hf oval coil and had no problem going from dry to wet sand. I found some loose change and a matchbox car, which I gave to a little girl digging in the sand. I used the beach ground balance, auto track , sensitivity at 19 but I felt like I could go higher. The xterra's with v-flex technology seem to work well everywhere I have tried it. Seriously considering calling kellyco and ordering a new 705 to go with the xterra 70. A back up.