Snorkeling Sanibel’s Out Islands
By
We spent hours boating from Fort Myers Beach to the outer islands of Sanibel this weekend. I felt like we were on vacation! The first island we pulled up to I found this nice sized WENTLETRAP…
It was resting in a nest of sea weeds and SARGASSUM.
Okay, I’ll fess up. Clark and I weren’t really looking for WENTLETRAPS but it was a nice surprise. We were actually looking for a LION”S PAW. “Why”, you ask? Because we wanted to find this LIONS PAW’s brother or sister…. or better yet, the granddaddy!
It’s a beauty, right? Did you see that all of the knuckles are in tact? Saweeeet! Captain Brian found this awesome LION’S PAW on Cayo Costa on Friday. Is this a happy face or what! Congrats Brian!
So we looked high and low for even a piece of one…
While on Cayo Costa, we met Anna (Indiana) shelling the beach with a bag full of shells tied to her walking stick…
She had a beautiful collection of shells ranging from SAND DOLLARS to that excellent yellow HORSE CONCH.
Now who wouldn’t be happy with this collection? She found ANGEL WINGS, TRUE TULIPS, TURBANS, a NUTMEG, SHARK’S EYE, LIGHTNING WHELK and a cute twisted WORMIE.
Clark found one of these live ARROWHEAD SAND DOLLARS floating in the current then saw the other one close by. We have found dead ARROWHEADS before but neither of us has ever seen live ones like this. They are beautiful! Clark put them back in the water right after I snapped this photo to keep them nice and healthy.
Well, we didn’t find LION”S PAW and the water clarity was a little cloudy but after seeing so many SAND DOLLARS, I put on my mask and snorkel to see what else I could find in the water. Take a few good breaths and get used to the water so you can go on my snorkeling vacation with me. Here we go!
PS- Next post I’ll show you lots of MANATEES that we saw this weekend! I love those SEA COWS!
That Lion’s Paw is a beauty. His first mate Salty was looking for one too so that probably made them both very happy. There is no place like Cayo. I highly suggest to all if you have never been – bring your boat or consider booking a tour (with Capt Brian of course) It will be the high light of your vacation.
I so want to be there. Love the underwater video.
I can not wait to get there in September. Love the pictures
Where is the best part of Cayo Costa to go shelling? I will be going over for the day, and want to make the most of my short time there! Thanks!
Just like Sanibel, the beach changes every day so the shells show up in different places. When we go, we normally pull up to the south tip of Cayo at the tree roots and look around, if we don’t find anything interesting, we just cruise the island and look for the wrack lines on the beach, then throw out the anchor. It’s an expedition. We never just pull up to the perfect spot the first try and stay all day. That wouldn’t be a treasure hunt!
but keep an eye on the weather when you are out there. It can change in an instant!
Hi Sue,
We visited Cayo Costa for the first time one afternoon last March, with Captiva Cruises (although Capt Brian was the boat’s pilot). As we were debarking the boat a woman waiting to board said “Don’t bother. There’s no good shells here.” Our group of six was discouraged to hear that but I suggested that we just forget about finding the big shells -everyone wants the big whelks and conches, slow down and look for pretty coquinas and scallops. We found many interesting shells-venus rays, nutmegs, purple tagulus, telins, and more. We had a great time and great additions to our collections.
Good for you LindafSWM! That Captiva Cruise is wonderful and yes, you can find good shells right there. You have it exactly right Linda… slow down and its amazing what you can find. Right there where the boat drops you off, look in the wrack lines for baby’s ears too along with all of the other shells. also you’ve got to look on all sides of the tip of that island… the bay side, where the roots are and on the gulf side. Thats one of our fave spots.
As soon as I saw that big conch, I thought…NO WAY that’s empty….and sure enough, I could hear your dissapointment when you turned it over…you set a great example to those who would be tempted to take a live shell, even though it is against the law… Have a great day and thanks as always for your hard work!
Really nice post Pam, thanks! Beautiful wentletrap, we can never get tired of those! Fun snorkeling video too!
Nice
Found lots of sand dollars on Lover’s Key beach at low tide on Saturday and Sunday!
Hi, my husband and I drove over from Hollywood on Saturday…..we found the dredge that I saw in your pictures. We parked and went treasure hunting. Found a Tulip, Whelk, Worm, Clam and small Conchs.I had forgotten how much fun it is to go shelling. We are coming back over and this time we will have our new nets to use. I think this has already become an obsession with me. My goal….a Horse Conch! Would have loved to have met you
Debbie
I love the picture of the wentletrap!!!! Great find!
Just completely enjoyed my little virtual shelling trip with you – from my desk. I love your website! Thanks for doing what you do!
Anna also has found what looks like a very nice yellow alternate tellin! great color. (center of the picture with the net bag)
pam- we really liked the calico scallop kaleidoscope from a few days ago. we suggested maybe you can do a similar one with coquinas some time.
thanks
steve
Really loved the underwater video!!!! Awesome!
My snorkel gear is ready and waiting – Got to get out to some of these “out” spots!!!!
I love your site, Pam! I learn so much here! I’ve never heard of an Arrowhead Sand Dollar before today. Captain Brian’s lionpaw shell is awesome! And, the snorkeling video was amazing — I can’t believe how many shells you found – and all those sand dollars! I have to remember to get to Cayo Costa the next time I get to come down — hopefully soon!!!
Of course all the good shells are there the day after we went to Cayo Costa. haha We went on our first trip ever to Sanibel last week and it was truely amazing! The shelling really did live up to my expectations. I found a really nice sized fig, a huge lace murex with all the spines
and a monster sized shark eye! I also found a nice sized Crown conch but he was alive :/ even though i couldnt keep him it was nice to see one for the first time. I cant wait to return to Sanibel!
Great Video how did you keep hold of the camera and the shells?
teri, its very tricky! haha
Yes, I was wondering the same thing!
Omg that video makes me so what to be there. I am grabbing things right with you. I love your first shot in this post!
Great finds! I miss shelling so much but I will be back there the end of March for another week of shelling. I am so in love with that place and finding my JUNONIA makes it just that much sweeter…Thanks so much for all of your info and loved the under water video..
Oh my, oh my, oh my…. That’s all I kept saying watchIng the great video; thank you Pam …you have no idea what a thrill that gives the rest of us!!
Congrats Capt.Brian the paw is amazing!!
Keep it coming Pam, great job!! Big hugs!!
Mary Ann
Are Lions Paws gray? I always thought they were a dark red/orange?
Lion’s Paws come in different shades of color but they seem to lose some of their color when they are dry. scroll through these posts to see the different colors… http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/category/seashells/lions-paw/
The Lions Paws can also be a bright yellow, but that color form is fairly uncommon. They are incredibly beautiful. I have never found a yellow one, but have seen them for sale at shell shows. They most often are collected by scuba diving in 80-100 feet of water.
Grump! Now I have to buy snorkeling gear that will work with glasses for my next trip down to Sanibel. Wonderful video. I met an 80 year old woman who has Sanibel on her bucket list. I suggest that she visit it virtually through your sight until she can get there.MEM
When you are snorkling for shells how deep in the water are you? I have never tried ths method of shelling and will plan on trying next trip to Sanibel. Love love love your underwater video . Once again great post…
We went to Cayo last year but had no luck. Maybe we weren’t on a good side. I did try snorkeling by Blind Pass a few weeks ago but the water was so murky, couldn’t even see my finger on my mask
. However, we did hear there are some clear days and snorkeling might pay off. I agree with never taking live shells, even hermit crabs. I am a shell freak but never want to kill anything to have one. You can always take a photo 
.