Hello Folks,

The Beaches of Southwest Florida are known for the abundance of shells, especially on the Island of Sanibel. Sanibel is known around the world for the quality and quantity of shells which you can find on its beaches. Most of our beaches have so many shells that at times it can be painful to walk bare footed.  

If you've never been to a beach with numerous shells, you are sure to be shocked at what you can find on our beaches. Before I moved to Florida, I use to visit multiple times a year and would always be walking the beaches. It was not uncommon for me to take a milk crate full of shells back home. After a few years, I had more shells than I knew what to do with.  

The best time to find quality shells is at low tide and after a storm. As storms work their way ashore, they stir up the oceans bottom and wash the nicer shells up on the beach. Most all the beaches allow shell collecting, but you can not keep live shells. If the shell has a living creature inside, you need to place him back in the water.

Some of my favorite shells which anyone can find on the beaches are:

The shells on the left are called Banded Tulips and those on the right are True Tulips. The Banded Tulips are more plentiful on the beaches, but you can occasionally find some True Tulips. These shells are generally 1.5'' to 2'' long, but I have found some True Tulips that were 6 to 8 inches in length. 

 The shellto the left is a Lightning Welk and can be found in size from 1 inch long to 7 inches and even much bigger (12'', 16" and longer). They get their name from the dark bands irregular shape going down the length of the shell. The shells to the right are Pear Welks and are generally 1'' to 6" in length. Pear Welks are generally very smooth and rounded.

The shells on both the Right & Left are the same species of shell. Some people call them "Sharks Eyes" and others call them "Moon Shells". These can be as small as a thunb nail or as large as the one to the left, These shells eat other shells by drilling a little round hole through the victims shells and sucking out the animal inside.

Most people recognize the Sand Dollar to the left. If you are lucky you may find one on the beach. There are some beaches that I know were you can find numerous Sand Dollars at low tide.The shells to the right are called "Olives" because of their shape. These shells are very smooth and are the fastest moving shells in the sea. 

Sooooo, What do I do with all the shells I pick up? I generally put them into clear galss vases or lamps. I'm not into doing crafty things with the shells ...... The "Crafty" part will probably hit me in another 20 years.

Yes, every one of the shells you see below was picked up off our local beaches down here in Southwest Florida.

Next time you schedule a vacation for yourself, you might want to think about coming to Southwest Florida ( Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, or Naples ).

Sincerely,
Sean Allen
Lic. Mortgage Broker
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