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Sanibel Island beach draws an Array of Seashells and Their Hunters
Sanibel Island Beach, hundreds gather near the lighthouse, combing the sand as they dig, inspect, and move on across this hammock-shaped island. The position is so common it has a name: the Sanibel Stoop.
“We take our shelling very seriously,” said Clark Rambo, who is known as Super Sheller Clark, a moniker used, sometimes admiringly, sometimes grudgingly, by his wife, Pam. Moreover, “Every day on the beach is a treasure hunt, and also that’s what makes it so competitive.”
Countless shells of all shapes and colors line Sanibel Island Beach. Sanibel and also neighboring Captiva Island, off Florida’s southwest coast, are top spots for seashell hunters seeking a true bonanza. There is no other place like it in the country, and also very few places like it in the world. On some days, depending on the wind, shells pour onto the beach in piles, seducing even the most jaded beach-goers.
“There are days on Sanibel Island beach when you have layers of shells four feet thick,” said José H. Leal, the director of the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum here. Additionally, “It’s one of the best places in the world for shelling, for sure.”
Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Florida, are the perfect vacation spots—ideal for a romantic getaway, family trip, or nature-filled escape. We have information on Sanibel Island Hotels, Captiva Island Hotels, hotels and resorts deals, local restaurants, local shopping, and also lots of fun things to do.