Sanibel Island, how is the shell picking (Siesta Key, Captiva: to live, garden)

[Kapalua]

I have never been there, but I had named a cat that name way back in the early 1970's. Can someone tell me can you find lots of " puka"-shells, and what other types of shells can be found. Thank you. I just like shells!

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Kapalua

I have never been there, but I had named a cat that name way back in the early 1970's. Can someone tell me can you find lots of " puka"-shells, and what other types of shells can be found. Thank you. I just like shells!

Geeze, I just went there today! It is the shelliest beach ever, although I was there a couple weeks ago and there were 2-3 times the shells I saw today! In any case it is a beautiful beach and highly recommend going to see it! The funny thing is as you go north from Sanibel to other beaches up to Siesta Key there is a gradation where the shells, sharks teeth, and sand get smaller and finer as you head north. I don't know if others have ever noticed it, but i thought it was an interesting observation.

No doubt if you go you will find plenty of what you're looking for. I saw a lot of shells, but did not focus on the Puka shell variety. There is a wide assortment though.

It was nice there today to. Not a lot of swimmers, but plenty to see! The water was a nice Teal Blue, but there was a little red algae along the edge of the water this time that wasn't there a couple weeks ago. The best shells are found just inside the water's edge, but you have to look for them harder than the piles and rows of them on the beach.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

The shell picking is so good its amazing. If you can afford a cruise out to Cayo Costa, its even better. Thats an island that you have to take a boat to get to. You could have picked up handfuls after handfuls of shells, you could have backed up a dump truck.

Its my favorite place on the planet.

My best advice on finding sea shells is to get a tidal schedule and as the tide is going out, go out and look for your shells. Check in tidal pools etc.

We took Walmart bags with us of if you have a bucket but you will be staggered by the sheer amount of them.

[Kapalua]

Thanks for the reply! Ah, I can just dream being there. I use to live on the island of Maui, that was my hobby, going to Makena Beach, after work, relaxin and scouting for puka shells, and then going to Sugar Beach ( 7 mile beach) AND looking for shells and DRIFT GLASS Oh once I took a vacation to the island of Kauai with a new friend ( she was a part itime actress when she was an actress ( she played in the movie The Great Race, with Larry Storch, anyways, we became friends and we wanted to see the island of Kauai, I only got to see a small section of it, because I had to go back to work. This tiny section of this non-swimmable beach, was LOADED with DRIFT GLASS ... REDS and YELLOWS and LIGHT BLUES..... I had BAGS and BAGS of that drift glass. and the last place I resided at I took the shells and drift newer glass, and made a MAP of MAUI near my front door and side of the house! I will NEVER get to SANIBEL ISLAND, unless I find a rich man to marry me....

[redstephie]

You should try and get hold of a copy of 'Gift from the sea' by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I believe she was inspired by the beautiful shells on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva.
Years ago, when we were staying on Sanibel Island, a stranger approached me one day and mentioned that I 'looked like the sort of person ' who would enjoy reading it!
Fourteen years on, we still have the shells scattered around our garden pond in Hampshire, England and the book is in the bookcase, much read and loved.