Key West, Florida

Chlamys sentis Yes, you can still shell in Key West, staying away from protected reefs. We will spend three days shelling from small boats in different habitats for a wide variety of shells, including Cowries, Cones, Conchs, Pectens, even Helmets and Tritons. Boats are 6-passenger, for shallow water. There is very little beach or wading shelling, so you should be prepared to snorkel.

Date:
May 31-June 4, 2008
 Prunum guttatum
For: Snorkelers (a little wading possible)
Cost: $900
Includes:
  • Accommodations
  • Breakfast
  • Boats & transportation to boats
  • Guide
    • Deposit:
  • $300 with reservation
  • balance due 6 weeks before trip.
  • Reservation Form

    • More about Key West

    We stay in a nice motel in Key West, where you can take the hourly trolley to many great restaurants, shopping, the Key West Handprint Factory, Mallory Square, and the beach. Continental breakfast is included.

    At the reef Beginning the morning after arrival, we drive to the marina for the boats, which hold a maximum of six shellers each. They will take us to a different place each day, a variety of habitats from grass flats and sand bars to reefs. Most of the shelling is by snorkeling, but you may wade in some places. The boats always stop where you can stand up, and you can snorkel in waist-deep water. On the reefs we stop inside the reef, where there is algae and loose rocks, rather than in the coral area itself, where we find fewer shells and so we will not disturb the coral. You will see lots of beautiful fish, many kinds of sea life, and find a great variety of shells. The boat captains hold Florida fishing licenses for groups, so you do not need a license unless you go live shelling on your own.

    In addition to shelling from the boats, we usually get permission to look in stored lobster pots where we may find shells unavailable to self-collectors.

    Conus mus So - what shells will we find? We usually find: Pectens, Tritons, Helmets, Conchs, Vase Shells, Cowries, Trivias, Cones, Flamingo Tongues, and many more. This is the variety I have found on each of my 30 or more trips to Key West.


    More photos of shells from the Florida Keys

    Ready to go? Fill out the reservation form and send a deposit. I will send a list of items to bring about 6 weeks before the trip. I can arrange extra nights in the inn and transportation in Key West and to/from airports in Sarasota, Key West, Fort Myers and Miami.

    Excerpts from an article by Karen VanderVen on her Key West experience.