19th Floor Penthouse Condos with Spectacular Views of the Gulf Waters
Marco Island Shelling
Discover the excitement of Marco Island Shelling. Learn about the rare shells found along our coastline. We recommend the best places and times to explore the stunning seashells along the beaches.
The Calico Crab, or Leopard Crab, features a colorful carapace and lives along Marco Island beaches.
It grows a white carapace up to 3 inches wide with red spots and can often be seen along shorelines.
Calico Crabs bury in sand and emerge aggressively to feed on decomposing organic matter and small invertebrates.
They shed their carapace multiple times, taking up to two weeks for a single shedding process.
For more information on sea life and activities in Marco Island, visit Sea Mar Condo’s website.
One of my favorite “shells” to find on Marco Island is the Calico Crab shield. Calico Crabs are also known as “Leopard Crabs” because of their colorful carapaces. They can be found along most of the Gulf of Mexico, including Marco Island’s Crescent Beach and Tigertail Beach.
The Calico Crab lives in shallow water along beaches and offshore. It can reach up to a 3 inch wide white carapace with large red spots and darker outlines. Often you can see a calico crab along the shoreline in Marco Island – they are most fascinating to watch. Because of their unique colorful covering, they are relatively easy to spot during a beach walk.
Live Calico Crab on Marco Island’s Crescent Beach
Food Sources and Habits
Calico Crabs are walking crabs, with their back legs designed for moving rather than being flattened for swimming and digging. This crab buries itself completely in sand until food is close by. Then they become very aggressive, moving quickly out of the sand to capture their prey. The normal food sources are decomposing organic matter from plants and animals (minnows, worms, clams, and other small invertebrates). This small crab’s predators are rays, fish, and sea turtles.
Carapace Shedding Process
Thanks to Treasure Seeker’s Shell Tours for the following information on the process of the Calico Crab shedding the carapace: https://treasureseekersshelltours.com.
Calico Crab Shield …when this guy starts the process to shed his shield it takes him up to two weeks to shell, if it is long it can take up to two months. Crabs are crustaceans, and we often see them on our beaches in the sand and they love mud . One of the important characteristics of the crab is that they can shell, they will not only shed their shells once in a Lifetime, but will shed their shells a dozen times. It is very likely that we can observe their shelling phenomenon . If the interval is relatively short then the crab can only shell once in about 2 months .
Visit our website https://www.seamarcondo.com for more information on Sea Mar Condo, Marco Island, FL. Our website offers lots of information on things to see and do on Marco Island, as well as information on sea life and wild life in the area. We want to make your vacation on Marco Island a trip of a lifetime!
An early morning walk down Tigertail Beach offers comfort and beauty, avoiding the midday heat.
Timing your walk near low tide enhances your shelling experience, with plenty of sand dollars available.
Enjoy wildlife sightings, including wading birds and possibly dolphins while walking along the lagoon.
The tranquil beach walk rewards you with serene views and the chance to collect beautiful shells.
Sea Mar Condos provide a perfect location for easy access to Tigertail Beach and top-notch accommodations.
Start Your Walk Early in the Morning
An early morning walk down Tigertail Beach, a 2.5 miles stretch of beautiful white sand is a great way to start the day! Walking early, especially in the hot weather season, is also more comfortable as the late morning and afternoon hours often become very hot.
Larry and I get up around 6:30 and start our walk around 7 am. We take along our water bottles, a snack, cameras, and shelling bags. Tigertail Beach offers a wide variety of shells, often lots of sand dollars, and is a serene and peaceful environment. Its location is also along the Great Florida Birding trail.
One of Tigertail’s shelling trees is the first thing you will see on your walk. These trees offer one the perfect opportunity to hang your “shell print” on Marco Island. Find a shell with a little “hanging hole” in it and place it on the perfect spot on the tree for all to see! This is also a great place to get a beautiful picture of the shell tree with the ocean in the backdrop.
Sand Dollars Galore!
A little further along the beach walk, you will come to Sand Dollar Split, named for the many sand dollars that tend to wash up on this particular area of the beach. We literally have to step around all the sand dollars on our morning walk down Tigertail Beach. Sand Dollars are very fragile; however, with careful handling we collect them and bring them home for beautiful souvenirs of our trips to Marco Island. (We have instructions in Sea Mar Condo for cleaning and caring for your shells). https://seamarcondo.com/how-to-tell-which-sand-dollars-are-safe-to-take-home/
Tigertail Beach Lagoon
As you come along Tigertail Beach Lagoon, you will also notice several wading birds. The white egrets can be quite comical as they practically walk along the beach with you in their strutting fashion. Larry and I get very lucky on our walk and see a pink spoonbill (Roseate Spoonbill) in the lagoon area. This is one of my favorite birds on Marco Island, but it is not always easy to spot them.
Tigertail Beach Park and Wading Birds
Roseate Spoonbill in Tigertail Lagoon
Tigertail Lagoon is a nice place to paddleboard and it is not uncommon to see both paddleboards and kayaks in the lagoon. Many wading birds make their nests along the lagoon as well. At times during the year both least tern and black skimmers nest in large groups around the lagoon area. The best birding season is from December to March. This is the winter dry season when birdlife concentrates in the permanent bodies of water.
To Wade or Walk Around Tigertail Lagoon?
Many beachgoers take the “short cut” and wade across Tigertail lagoon to reach the beautiful white sand beach on the other side. Although very safe as the water even during high tide is around waist high, the lagoon appears to be quite “murky” because of the silt in the bottom. Walking with a shuffle is also recommended as there may be stingrays in the water at times. We also recommend wearing beach shoes. I much prefer leaving our condo and walking around the lagoon as I enjoy my beach walks over wading the lagoon waters.
A Serene and Calming Beach Walk in Early Morning
From the lagoon area, the early morning walk along Tigertail beach is peaceful, serene, and calming. You will not find a lot of other beachgoers because this is not a populated area. There are no hotels or other commercial establishments along this beach. Look to your right as you walk toward the north end of Tigertail and you will see very nice houses and a private beach area. This is the Hideaway Beach community, a private gated beach area, thus it is accessible only to residents.
Calming Blue Waters
As you continue your walk, be sure you keep an eye on the calming crystal blue waters. You may be rewarded with seeing dolphin or even a manatee. I have seen both in this area. It is also common to see lots of pelicans, osprey, and at times eagles. You will definitely be rewarded with a beauty that calms the soul.
Tigertail’s Peaceful Waters
The North Side of Tigertail Beach
Our Tigertail Bounty
Larry and I are rewarded with some very nice pictures, a also with a lot of sand dollars (my fav), and Florida fighting conch shells (Larry’s fav) from our walk. We also get a very perfect large banded tulip along the walk as well. On our return we encounter an osprey on a tree branch that even poses for our picture taking! Our walk takes around 3 hours although we stopped for snacks, water, and picture taking along the way. Even though we have walked this part of the beach many times, it never gets old, and perhaps even more rewarding each time.
Start Your Day with Peace and Serenity
There are few places in this world where you can see this kind of beauty and experience the peace and serenity that this 2 miles of Tigertail Beach offers. Tigertail Beach was named by Coastal Living Magazine as one of the top private beaches in the world to visit.
Teresa on Tigertail beach
Black Skimmers on TigertailEarly Morning on TigertailSand dollars from Sand Dollar SplitLarry Washing our Bounty
Sea Mar Condos are located between Tigertail Beach and South (Crescent)Beach in Marco Island, FL. In addition, we are in South Seas Northwest resort in Tower 3 and Tower 4. Our location makes it easy to visit both of these beautiful beaches while staying in first class accommodations. Our views are also some of the best on the island. Come relax in Paradise!
Visit our website https://www.seamarcondo.com for more information on Sea Mar Condo, Marco Island, FL. We want to make your vacation on Marco Island a trip of a lifetime!
The Dolphin Explorer offers unique boat tours around Marco Island, recognized by National Geographic for its educational value.
Participants engage in dolphin sightings, learn about their behavior, and collect seashells on pristine beaches.
The tours allow children to earn a Dolphin Patch and join the Dolphin Explorer Club.
The Dolphin Explorer is a 30-foot catamaran designed for wildlife observation, with a professional crew for safety and guidance.
Reservations can be made online or by phone for two daily tours at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
The Dolphin Explorer
The Dolphin Explorer is a great way to see Marco Island’s most famous residents! National Geographic book “100 Places that Can Change Your Child’s Life”, lists this company as the only activity in Florida selected by the award-winning writer Keith Bellows. He traveled around the world looking for experiences which would be life-altering for children. However, The Dolphin Explorer is not only fun for children – it is perfect for adults as well!!!!
This is what you’ll see when you take a tour with The Dolphin Explorer!
Guests not only get to take a great boat ride, but also visit a totally pristine deserted beach and collect beautiful seashells. They get the chance to get up close and personal with some of the most amazing creatures on the planet…the bottlenose dolphin! You also get to be part of a unique scientific project. In fact, you become a citizen scientist.
Underwritten and managed by Sea Excursions, the Dolphin Explorer is engaged in the only on-going daily dolphin study in the area. With the help of their passengers, they chronicle every dolphin sighting and compare them to their chart of dolphin photos. The crew are able to recognize each dolphin by the shape of the dorsal fin. This allows the naturalists to build a bank of knowledge about the dolphin population of Marco Island. Guests learn how the dolphins interact, where they spend their time, when babies are born, and how long they stay with their mothers.
And, if you are under the age of 12, you can also participate in “The Dolphin Challenge”. This allows youngsters to receive a Dolphin Patch and become a member of the exclusive Dolphin Explorer Club.
What’s Uniques About the Dolphin Explorer?
The Dolphin Explorer is a 30 foot catamaran with two 225 HP outboards capable of carrying up to 28 passengers. Because of its design, it is perfect for both navigating the water of the Gulf and the backwater estuaries of the area. The boat is excellent for survey work. It is unique in “getting up close and personal” to observe marine life and photography.
The Dolphin Explorer’s design and power attracts dolphin to its wake for fabulous photographs. The vessel provides a choice of sun or shade for those with children. It also offers complimentary beverages and shelling bags. Be sure to bring sunglasses, your camera, sunscreen and any snacks you and the family might enjoy. The Dolphin Explorer is professionally crewed by a USCG Master Captain. Additionally, there is a Mate who is a Master Naturalist and Wildlife Photographer.
My Tour Was Fantastic!
Larry and I have taken several tours on The Dolphin Explorer and they are always some of the most fun adventures we’ve done on Marco Island. On one of the trips, we saw 17 different dolphins! The trips are educational and I love seeing the dolphin moms with babies and several dolphins jumping behind the boat. There are also lots of great shells and baby least terns on the beautiful island where the tour breaks for a while. I have even seen a manatee at the most southern end of Tigertail Beach.
Scheduling a Tour with The Dolphin Explorer
Two survey trips daily: one in the morning departing at 9:00am the second departs in the afternoon at 1:00pm.
To make your reservation by phone Call: (877) 523-7266 or visit their website at https://dolphin-study.com/
The Dolphin Explorer (877) 523-7266 Rose Marina 951 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, FL 34145 9-12 noon and 1-4 pm daily
Visit our website athttps://seamarcondo.com. Our “Top 10 List” provides information on many things to see and do in Marco Island. We also recommend several tour companies and restaurants to make your vacation on Marco Island the best vacation ever.
Marco Island is a prime location for finding rare sea shells, thanks to its geography and Gulf currents.
Visitors to Sea Mar Condo enjoy shelling along the beach, especially seeking rare shells like the Junonia.
Collect shells two hours before and after low tide for the best results, and avoid taking live shells due to Florida law.
Preserve your found shells with a bleach-water solution and pack them carefully for traveling home.
Sea Mar Condo offers shelling buckets and a washing station, enhancing the shell collecting experience for guests.
Looking for rare sea shells?
Looking for rare sea shells on Marco Island
Marco Island is the perfect place for looking for rare sea shells for your collection!
Along with its neighboring islands Sanibel and Captiva, Marco Island is considered one of the top U.S. destinations for shell collecting. It is even regarded as one of the top destinations in the world! These barrier islands have geography to thank for their good fortune. The islands’ ideal location in the Gulf of Mexico provides a plentiful and wide variety of shells. Currents bring the shells north, flowing from the Caribbean.
Guests to Sea Mar Condo Enjoy Shelling
Most of our guests at Sea Mar Condo spend time on the long stretch of beach hunting for rare sea shells. These shells make a great display to their shelling collection. In addition, they love the beautiful waters, sun, and tranquility of Marco Island.
And what seashells there are! You can spend hours collecting shells of the most amazing shapes, sizes and colors. These are some of the most commonly found shells in their area. Note: The Junonia is one of the most rare shells to find on Marco Island. Although rare, they do appear at times, especially after high winds or following storms.
Some of the Many Variety of Shells Found on Marco Island
Take Only Shells That Are Not Alive
It is important to make sure you take only the shells that are not alive. Shells are a very important part of the island’s ecosystem. Florida law prohibits live shelling.
When To Shell
Plan your shelling times for 2 hours before low tide and 2 hours after low tide. These are the best times for shelling because more shells get exposed with low tides. Additionally, the best shelling often happens after rain. Storms push up shells onto the beach.
We provide shelling buckets for our guests at Sea Mar Condo. A shell washing station is located on the boardwalk from the beach into the pool area of South Seas. DO NOT wash the shells in the condo. This deposits sand in our drains and can cause damage that is very expensive to repair.
Make sure you have protective shoes for walking on the beach — those shells can be sharp!
How To Preserve Your Shells
After collecting your shells and washing them at the shelling station, use a 50-50 bleach-water solution to kill any bacteria. This solution also removes parts of creatures that might still be present in the shells, even when they appear dead or “empty.” It is best to use one of the buckets that are in the condo. Put the shells out on the balcony overnight to soak. This prevents a “stinky” unpacking once you get home.
Be careful how you pack your shells, even if you plan to carry them on the airplane with you. Many shells, such as sand dollars, are very fragile. It is a good idea to use lots of padding. If possible, wrap them individually, at least the larger ones.
Once home, lightly oil the shells using baby or mineral oil and a soft cloth before you proudly display your beautiful shells.
The day after Hurricane Ian, I found my perfect Junonia on Marco Island. Along with it, I found a beautiful alphabet cone and nutmeg shell. The Scaphella Junonia is the most sought after shell on Marco Island and the ten thousand islands. They are most often found after storms and high winds. They measure between 1-5 inches in length.
Visit our websitehttps://seamarcondo.com for more information on Sea Mar Condo, Marco Island, FL. We want to make your vacation on Marco Island a trip of a lifetime!
