Could you imagine finding these 2 huge empty HORSE CONCHS wading through the Sanibel gulf waters? Well Diane Foley and her sister-in-law not only found 2 off Middle Gulf Drive... they found 5 of these gorgeous treasured shells. Shellzam! Then used my cleaning tips to get those first 2 to look amazing.
Remember Abigail from our iLoveShelling Adventure with Sight Sea-R Cruises this week? After our cruise, her dad Ken posted this photo on my Facebook page. Abigail found a big beautiful empty HORSE CONCH on Sanibel too. Yahoo!
Lainey found an awesome empty LIGHTNING WHELK at Blind Pass Sanibel. The big shells might not be rolling up on the beach but they are sure in the water. Way to go!
I was so honored to meet the Santiago family from Georgia this week staying at the Island Inn Beachfront Resort. They were the big winners of our iLoveShelling 5 Year Shellaversary GiveAway for 5 nights stay at Island Inn. It was so much fun hanging out with Sierra, Pete, Keaton, Cynthia, Claire and MaKalie who were enjoying every second of their stay in their beautiful room with a view of this awesome beach.
They showed me a few of their favorite finds including TRUE TULIPS, LETTERED OLIVES, FIGHTING CONCHS, SUNRAY VENUS, LIGHTNING WHELKS, all sorts and colors of SCALLOPS and an array of minis.
Claire couldn’t keep her eye of the cutie KITTENS PAWS. I love them too, Claire!
Big or small, strolling the beach in sunshine along aqua water is a dream come true. Live it, Love it.
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Congratulations everyone on those amazing shells. It sure looks like a great time to be on Sanibel. Wish I was there instead of at my desk…… (sigh)
Pam –
Just spent three days last week at the Island Inn on Sanibel. Heaven!
A couple quick questions…
When is the next Shellabaloo?
Do you do shelling trips during the Christmas holiday season (like the weeks before and after Christmas)?
Thanks – I’ve always been a sheller, but I’ve never learned so much as I have from reading your posts and studying your pictures. Would love to meet you someday!
Molly
Hi Molly- thanks for the nice comment! The island has been so busy this past year, we’ve had a difficult time getting dates that work for Shellabaloo, Island Inn, me, restaurants and so forth. The day trip cruises are so much fun and uncomplicated , it’s much easier to get a group together. I will be working on those dates for fall very soon. I’ll try to get a few around Christmas like I did last year – hohoho. :) thanks for asking!
Molly,
The day cruises are a blast. I hope you get to go on one and meet Pam. She is so personable and makes everyone feel so special. I will always cherish how she drew a circle in the sand around a false angel wing so I could “discover it.” Her infectious enthusiasm makes each trip so much fun. She has a wealth of knowledge on where to find certain shells and compliments everyone on their finds.
When I commented on my junonia find, Pam got up early the next morning to meet me and take my picture. She is one extraordinary gal!
Big empty horse conchs! Wow.
I also love your “best of” picture with all the hands, so nice.
I am looking forward to our Sanibel trip in early December — I wonder if (like last year) I can find another 20 species that are not yet on the Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum list… I would guess that’s not so likely, as it gets harder every year as the total keeps going up and up, but you never know. I will certainly try. :)
In the meantime Ed and I are off to Southern California for nearly 3 weeks in mid-August. That will be nice too, but there is nowhere like Sanibel!!!
Have a great trip Susan.
I look forward to hearing if you break last year’s record in December. If anyone can do it, I know it’s you. :)
wow another great day for shelling it really brightens up your day to see what mother nature has to show you and pam an clark help show anyone that’s interested in shelling they are two special people so listen to them–
r.g.stein
So envious of the giant horse conchs. My husband found one 2 years ago and is still smiling. Love, love, love Sanibel Island and plan to take a shelling excursion next time we’re there. I look forward to your posts every day.
Last week at Bowmans Beach a couple of small (18″-24″ across) rays ( I don’t know what kind but they were a light brown, similar to the color of cow rays I saw in Gulf migration pictures) swam around my feet in about a foot of water. A couple of days later the number increased to about a dozen. Two of days ago I counted about 30 rays, all the same color and size of my previous sightings, all as close as a foot or two from the shore at Bowmans Beach at low tide. Today the number of rays grew to 100-200+ rays, a best guess by some surprised shellers.
Have you seen them ?
Do you know what kind of rays they might be ?
It looks as though they might be under the spell of a charismatic leader ray who is rapidly gathering followers.
Could they be army rays ? They are the right color and swim in formation.
Could they be drone rays being tested by DOD ?
Hi Britt! Haha yep- maybe drone Rays. ;) but prob more like cownose if they look like my vid here… http://youtu.be/LcpARgVsmxA
Oh my gosh. just saw that you have a shelling cruise while we’re going to be down there! We just booked our trip and will arrive Aug. 28th to Sept. 5th. Yippee – emailing my husband now to let him know!!! Can’t wait to meet you, Pam. We never crossed paths last year when we were there about the same timeframe. So excited!
One more thing. Do you recommend snorkel gear for the cruise? At least goggles? Thanks!
Yay!! And yes, if you like to snorkel- bring them if its not a pain. of course you never know how the conditions will be then so you can make a list minute decision too. either way it’ll be fun
Thanks for responding! I just booked the cruise – I’m so excited I can’t stand it!!! We’ll at least bring goggles. Hopefully the water will be nice and clear like all your photos show it to be. Our fourth time back to the area!
Hey Pam, I love your website and check it every day. We went to Sanibel last October and are going again this year. In the meantime, though, I’m missing your super virtual shelling videos. Do you have any in the works?
Hello,
My name is Alex and I live way up in ND. So I’ve been thinking about coming down to Florida to the Sanibel area. Was wondering if you ever sell your shells. If so how would I be able to order some, if not, where would you suggest the best time and place to come down and go to.