Look at all of the stunning purple SEA URCHINS shellers were finding on Cayo Costa yesterday on our iLoveShelling cruises to Cayo costa with Captiva Cruises! I’ve never seen so many people finding these fragile treasures like I did yesterday. Wow! Amy and her daughter Rachel (IL) started snorkeling in the calm clear water as soon as they go to the island then hit a honey hole to fill up their shelling bag with these beauties.
Lynda and her Aunt Rhonda were having the same luck while snorkeling. These SEA URCHINSÂ are so cool!
The SEA URCHINS were such a treasure but then I was really amazed when I saw Rhonda pull up this huge double ANGEL WING. Yes! Both sides were still together! Shellzam!
Lauren, John, Valerie and Jessica from Maryland found lots of beautiful empty FIGHTING CONCHS as soon as we got off the boat.
They are such a shelling family, I don’t think they were going to miss a thing… They found all of these SEA URCHINS too.
Holly (OH) and her mom Karen (FL) not only looked like rock stars in their cutie petutie cover-ups on (heehee)…
They found oodles of double SUNRAY VENUS clams, COCKLES and found a SEA URCHIN too.
Lisa from Atlanta joined us again on another shelling cruise! I met her on last years cruise when she found an Arrowhead Sand Dollar.
This year she found lots of different shells… and showed me her picture perfect display of her fave treasures. Love it!
Judy B was on the cruise too!  I can’t tell you how fun it is for me to see people I feel like I know from conversations on my blog. She is always so helpful with comments in my posts and has such a happy attitude all the time. It warms my heart.
She was excited to find a SPECKLED TELLIN (they are fairly uncommon to find on Sanibel and Captiva), EGG COCKLE and ALTERNATE TELLIN.
So this is how amazing this world is… Judy is the person who gave me my SAND DOLLAR charm from Sealife By Congress that I wear on my DOSINIA shell. She gave this to me last year on an iLoveShelling cruise- I’m not sure why she gave it to me but I loved it, still love it and am grateful she thought of me.
When we met last year we both had the same silver Queen Conch shell from Sealife By Congress (that she wore yesterday) so maybe she knew I had lost mine (in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba– since queen conchs aren’t a local shell maybe it wanted to go back to the Caribbean- heehee).
So this is kinda one of those “Pay it Forward” stories.
Fast forward to this year…. Yep! These are the same charms that you will receive on every featured iLoveShelling cruise in the form of a $25 gift certificate from Sealife By Congress . You can choose your fave shell!
Isn’t that awesome? So Judy received one of these certificates yesterday on the cruise to get another charm or pendant for the one she gave me. And everybody else got one too! Yay! Thank you Sealife By Congress!
So not only did we have a blast shelling on one of the most beautiful islands in the world…
We all found different shells…
We found fabulous BEACH BLING like this COQUINA LIMESTONE.
We made wishes on the shell tree for more perfect days like this.
We saw lots of healthy creatures…
…living their lives in such a beautiful habitat.
As we watched DOLPHINS and MANATEES playing around us…
In calm clear water
I hope you get to join us for one of these special events with Captiva Cruises…
Check out our new upcoming dates and call 239-472-5300 to reserve your spot.
And check out all of the iLoveShelling Shelling Adventures…
Another great trip, right Pam? You rock!
Lovely pictures Pam. I love the sea urchins, double sunray venus, speckled tellin, etc. Looks like everyone had a good time. There is a glich with some of the pictures. When you click on the picture to enlarge it the wrong picture shows up. Some were in the middle area- the rock stars ladies shows up on under a different picture and the lady that found the speckled tellin has a different picture. Probably some computer glich. I’m going to make a reservation for your Feb 9 cruise-hope we have good weather. Pat
Oh Pat- you are the best. thank you for letting me know about that weird thing that happens to my photos sometimes- i fixed it! (I hope) I look forward to seeing you in February!
Looks like you fixed it. We’re booked for the cruise-can’t wait to see you! Pat
One of these years I will be on Sanibel/ Captiva when you host the cayo costa trip. I am always too late in the month. Love your blog!
Beautiful images Pam! And the cutest tiny sea star I have ever seen!!! :)
I booked today for the Dec 7th trip to Cayo Costa for my mother-in-law, daughter and myself! So excited, can’t wait!!
how did you do that? I tried to book the Nov. 10 cruise and the message was that no reservations would be taken until one week before the cruise. I would appreciate any info you can give me. It is my retirement treat to go to Sanibel in November this year and and so excited that a I Love Shelling cruise is scheduled during my stay.
Thank you
Cindy E
I called yesterday and was able to book for the Feb cruise. I used the number Pam put above the chart and told them it was for an I love shelling cruise. I spoke with Brad. Normally you have to wait. Try again and good luck. Pat
Pat,
Called today and got my reservation. Got mixed up, thought you were also going in Nov. when I will be there. February should be awesome.. Enjoy your experience and maybe we will meet some year on another I Love Shelling cruise.
Hope you get many “gifts”in Feb.
Cindy
YAY!!!!!!!
Sorry Cindy, just logged back onto the site. They told me they didn’t book that far in advance also, but I mentioned it was an I Love Shelling.com cruise & they took my reservation. Glad to hear you got it figured out. Happy Shelling!
After checking the schedule, I’m thrilled to get to join you this fall. The date for making my reservation is on my calendar. I’m lusting after the huge angel wings! Love your posts, Pam. More cyber shelling pictures, please! I need a fix before I get to be there in real life, and am finding it challenging to be patient!
You can call and make your reservation today. See my note above. Pat
Pat,
Thanks much for the info. I called today and got my reservation. Looking forward to meeting you on the cruise. It will be my last day on Sanibel and what a way to “go out”
See you on November 10th!
Cindy
sure looks like you had a great time especially with the urchins and the big angel wings, another great post thank you sincerely R.G. STEIN
Thanks so much for the shelling update, wish I was there right now
I was on the first cruise where Sealife Congress gave us charms. My cousins and I all found shells (Texas Cutie Cousins) and had the charms and shells put on a necklace. We love our necklaces and what a beautiful way to remember our favorite place to visit! Thanks Pam for the idea! We will see you next summer!
Another great post and information about shells. I have two pieces I found at the NJ Shore this summer that I cannot identify. I will bring them with me when I come to Sanibel in Nov. Also, I am so so excited that there is a I Love Shelling Cruise on Nov. 10. I was so hoping there would be one during my retirement celebration week in Nov. So, I have made my reservation and am sure I will have a memorable shelling experience with you even if I do not find a special “gift from the Sea”. The experience will be my gift!
Everyone had an exshellent time on your latest cruise! The happiness is contagious there. My husband agreed when I said Sanibel must be the happiest place on earth – everyone we met there whether living or visiting was so nice and really happy to be there :-). Thanks for answering all of my shell questions. It was great to see you again!
I wanted to pay it forward after receiving the sand dollar when purchasing the conch shell last year. What fun it was to see that we had the same necklace the first time I met you when I was shelling with my son at Blind Pass last year – then I had such a great time on your cruise that same week. It was awesome to see what you had done with it! Your artistic abilities are amazing from the shell note cards to your photos and blog and the great ideas of what to do with shells (olive bracelet, shell necklace with charm).
Love the people at Sealife By Congress – I used the certificate they graciously gave everyone on your cruise toward another sealife charm :-). On my next visit, I will have to see what they can do with the junonia piece I found on Sanibel!
Judy B, you warm my heart! Your happiness is contagious to me as well- you put wind in my sails. it was so wonderful to see you and to hang out with you on the cruise. You are a sweetheart! thank you!!!