Uber Cuteness! If “they” named SAND DOLLARS because of the similar size of a one dollar coin piece, then I found me some SAND DIMES this morning! LOL
But then, they are even smaller than a dime.
I know some of them are still a little dark in color but don’t worry, they weren’t still alive. They were all in different stages of losing their “fur” (that’s what I call it but they actually have fine hair or cilia that cover their bodies) so that’s why they are all different colors as well. In probably one more day they will all turn white… if they don’t break apart first.
Tara (St Louis) was showing her daughter Vivian something she just found and I got very curious because they looked so excited…
So I had to ask what they found. She had a few mini shells and lots of these mini SAND DOLLARS!
Tara introduced me to the gal who found this little treasure trove of gems first this morning, Kay from Iowa. Kay’s daughter was cleaning some shells she brought back to their place yesterday and one of these little SAND DOLLARS dropped out of another shell. Wow! So Kay went back this morning about half a mile east of Gulfside City Park (Sanibel) to see if she could find a few more. Yes! She found the spot and shared this little seashell honey hole with all of us that walked by. So sweet! Kay was a little shy of the camera but she showed me the little darlings that she had in her hand…
Kate and Ken from Michigan were finding the bigger shells on the same beach.
Ken was especially happy he found that awesome baby LIGHTNING WHELK and the rich colored LETTERED OLIVE (grrrr… I wish you could see that one better because it is gorgeous). I know, that’s a gorgeous PAPER FIG too, right? It’s a keeper even though it has a tiny hole on the other side of the shell. It’s always a good day to find a PAPER FIG!
I met them just before we found the SAND “DIMES” (heehee) so they joined in on the fun too.
It was like we were finding real money out there! I actually think is was better than finding money (hmmmm, well, better than finding pocket change … let’s be honest! ;)) I got so excited to see this adorable BLING, I figured you would too. So I took a video for a CYBERSHELLING hunt for a few minutes so you could go with me. Enjoy!
I love those little “sand dimes”! They are adorable.
I coat my sand dollars and any thing fragile with white glue mixed with water makes them last longer. I got so sad when I would get home and find them broken. I will be there with glue in hand.
Love your website. Love this post and the video of finding all the “sand dimes”……never saw them that small. Think I saw a Wendletrap while looking for the sand dimes……I love it that you let us help look for treasures with you.
I have never seen them so tiny! I love the way a couple look like they have a starfish shape in the middle!
Last May, we found a bunch of live ones on Cayo Costa with Capt. Brian! It was so fun to see them moving along!
We got another round of snow today so your post was a welcome respite to the cold. Loved the baby sand dollars…what a find. As a child, my Mom always put them in bleach to whiten them, don’t know if that works with these tiny ones. Going along cyper-shelling was fun except …I desperately wanted to pick up what you didn’ t!
I don’t think I’m going to take a chance to put them in bleach. Yikes! id hate for them to weaken and crumble. I think I’ll just put them on the window sill (I’m afraid they’ll blow away if I put them outside) and let the sun bleach them. And if it doesn’t bleach them, so be it. It’s fun that they are all different colors so if they stay that way and just fade a bit, I’ll still be happy.
Love those baby sandy dimes. Thank you Pam for the video it’s just what I needed tonight. It’s soo cold here in NY. And I’m upset about the house we made an offer on in Sanibel was reduced close to what we offered and now is in contract. We should been there now and warm instead of here and freezing.
Thanks for letting me vent…keep those cyber-shelling videos coming.
I found a few of those sand dimes at gulf side, but I thought they were alive and put them back! Next time we come I’ll check a little closer. That was also a nice banded tulip.
Pat
My grandchildren found a bunch in Orange Beach when our whole family was there on vacations. They brought them home and painted designs on them. They gave them to me because they know I love shells. I used them to outline the frame of the picture collage of our trip. What a treasure!
Why so many in one place?
Many years ago one Christmas I went to Gulf Shores State Park Pier (AL) with my MIL. There were dozens of these tiny sand dollars near the pier. Even these were very rare finds for Gulf Shores, Not many shells there at all anymore.
OMG! After shelling sanibel for over 30 yrs I have never found them that small! L♥VE it!
me either! so cute!
Hello – I misplaced the info on the pocket camera you use! Would appreciate that info again! Thanks ! Your pics and video’s look great.
“Seaglass”
I buy whatever the latest panasonic lumix camera Costco is selling at the time I need a new one….. Which is often. They aren’t that durable for the outdoorsy people like me but I haven’t found another one that was as easy to use and clear photos as this brand. Good luck!
Hi Pam, I purchased the Nikon AW100 camera which is waterproof. I made several ungracious entries into the gulf last month and the camera was fine. You can even take it snorkeling. It takes movies as well as beautiful photos. You may want to google it because it is really a beach friendly camera. I also found lots of mini sand dollars near Shalimar. I soaked them in mild bleach water to which I had mixed white glue. Came out fine. Now that you have the mini sand dollars you’ll have to make a sailor’s valentine. Sue Bunkin
Before Hurricane Ivan, I used to go snorkeling over the sand and find sand dollars. Since Ivan, I haven’t found a single one. :-(
Pam,
Thank you for the video. I thought when I went to your blog this morning…”hope we get to go cyber-shelling”…and we did! Thank you for sharing the sand “dimes”. I never thought about sand dollars being that small :)
Enjoy Sanibel sun while some of us deal with the winter storm :(
Oh my gosh! Those “sand dimes” are so stinkin’ cute! I’ve never seen anything like them! But then I guess we all start small and grow…cycle of life. Is this the first time you’ve ever seen them that small? It is awesome to me that life reveals something new to us everyday if we are just “aware” enough to notice. Thanks, Pam for sharing the cybershelling video…made my day! Hope to see you in April!
Oh! And I love the dolphin leisurely swimming in the opening of the video.
So do I!! I didn’t even notice the dolphin the first time – I had to go back to double check. That’s another thing I miss about Sanibel. We don’t have many dolphins in NJ. I found 2 sand dollars in Dec. about the size of my palm, but I have never seen any so small.
No, I’ve never seen them that small before. I’ve seen them smaller than a quarter but no, not smaller than a dime! And guess what… Clark looked at them and told me he thought they were arrowhead sand dollars. I looked at them again with my cheaters and OMG I think they are! They dont have the 5 slits in them. They are rarer to find than the Keyhole Sand dollars we normally find. I was so amused at seeing them that small, I didnt even notice!
Oh my! Those little sand “dimes” are sooooo cute!!! I am trying hard to get back there, it is freezing here in PA. :-( If you know of a rental that would accept my little Yorkie please let me know, I’m desperate. :-(
You and your shells always make me smile though! :-)
Thanks!
Mitchell’s Sandcastles on West Gulf drive(past Rabbit road) is a dog friendly resort. I think my husband and I were the only one’s there without a dog Sue
You can find little sand dollars on Pompham Beach, Maine. I agree, so adorable and fun to find!!!
Love the tiny sand dollars and the ‘I spy’ video!
Oh i Soooo needed a cyber shelling fix, and there you were!! Thanks Pam! I will be there next week and hope to meet you on the beach!!
Yes, I saw some of these when I was at Gulfside City Park last December. On my hands and knees I might add, that’s how small some of them were.
Great finds Pam! I did find some sand dollars last December while in Florida, but not any mini ones! There were a lot of Horseshoe crabs though in Sanibel! I first saw Horseshoe crabs in Delaware in April so maybe they went “south” for the winter. Also for the larger sand dollars, I have found lots in Moclips, WA back in Sept. Yes I love to travel to the beaches on all ends of US and Canada. Thanks to your blog though, upon arriving in Sanibel, it ranks as one of my favorites… then Hutchinson Island (near Bathtub Beach), then WA coast, then the Outer Banks. I have yet to get to Oregon, which I hear has a beautiful coast, so I can’t comment on that state yet!
I’m from the Portland area and yes, our rugged coastline is beautiful and definitely worth a trip. There is not much in the way of shells, but sand dollars can be be found in large quantities at certain beaches at specific times of the year. People also go to the beaches looking for agates, and the like. Just came from Sanibel and had a very successful shelling trip. It always cracks me up to meet up with people that are amazed that we came all the way from “Ore-gone” to Sanibel-LOL.
love those little guys…and thanks for the peek of kate and ken (my kids) too!
cass
One of the many things I love about Sanibel is that you never know what you will find! So cute, another one for the list. :)
Pam We would love to meet you. Will be staying at Castaways 3/7 and 3/8. I am sure you are at shell show . We dod not have time this visit to attend this. Perhaps you will up early shelling as we will be. We have been comint to Sanibel for 16 years, always read your site. Sincerely, carol and Jason DIckman
Oh that baby sand dillar goes on my bucket list for August!!!
They are sooooo cute!!
Oh thanx for the cyber shelling…needed that pick me up!!
Did the Shellabaloo #2 sell out???
Love the little sand dollars. I’m not sure I would find them without my glasses on, but I will be sure to keep my eyes open for them.
It was another great day on Sanibel. We spent the morning with Captain Brian on Cayo Casta. I found my first Tusk Shell (2), Babies Ear (2), Sand Dollar (2) and Sunray Venus (3). They may not be special to everyone but when it’s the first one of a particular shell you find, it gets very exciting. Brian was absolutely wonderful and I recommend him to anyone looking to go and shell the other islands. Early to bed tonight – low tide is at 4:30 am. Ha.
Hope to see you soon! I’ll be on the beach by noon on Monday!!!
Pam, I’ve been following you since last May when we made our first trip to Sanibel for my 50th birthday! Love it! We’re taking my Mom down this May so she can shell with us. Sooo looking forward to it! I’ve been trying to track down a way to purchase an iloveshelling shelling bag and hat. Any idea on where I can track either of them down? Thanks for keeping us up to date on paradise!
I was looking for the same items, hat with light and the yellow striped bag! Going in July…cannot wait!!
I am so jealous. We got socked in with snow, 19 inches where we are, and I soooooo need a vacation. This was just perfect to tide me over!
The tiny sand dollars are adorable. LOVE the video. Thanks to you Pam I’m relaxing by shelling and listening to the sound of the waves on Sanibel, even though I’m gazing out the window at snow…
Darn! I saw Pam’s video on the little “dime” sand dollars and got excited because it was the same location-between the Sundial and Gulfside park that I had gone up and down for 2 weeks and did not see one. (We just got back.) That is where I found all my good shells, on that gently sloping beach.
pam, just got home (to cold and snowy MI) and saw this. it was great to meet you earlier this week and we had a fantastic time shelling. thanks again for being so cool and having a great website. until next year…
If they don’t whiten on the windowsill, you could always give them a coat of white spray paint. They would make such cute earrings!
I just found a bunch of little sand dollars like these at the end of tiger tail beach on Marco Island. My husband found the first few washed up on shore, and soon I realized there were a bunch of them just floating in the top of the water!! We got about 40 of them in all ranging from a little smaller than a dime to about twice the size of a quarter, but most of them right around that quarter size. I knew absolutely nothing about sand dollars at the time, and have since done some research. When I found out that the hairy ones might have actually been alive I was horrified, but with a little more looking I think that they were all dead because live sand dollars live on the bottom, and these were all floating on top. Nevertheless, it is still bothering me a bit, so I was hoping maybe you could confirm this for me and tell me how to be absolutely sure they are dead in the future! Also, I think all the different colors are really cool and don’t intend to bleach them at all. Will they still eventually fade? I hope not! Anyway, thanks for the great post!