Shelling Tour on Siesta Key, Florida
Siesta Key is famous for powder-white quartz sand, and that same fine sand is why its beach shelling is smaller and subtler than the rocky keys to the south. The trick is to shell the calm flats on the bay side of the bridge, where the shells settle and stay. Here is where to look, what turns up, and the guided tour that does the work for you.
Where the shells are, what you will find, and when to go.
Where to shell on Siesta Key
Point of Rocks at the south end of Crescent Beach traps shells between the rocks. Turtle Beach has coarser sand and bigger finds than Siesta Beach itself. Beach accesses 12 and 13 are quieter walks. For the best odds, though, skip the open Gulf and wade the bay-side flats by the Siesta Drive bridge, where our tour meets.
What you will find
Coquinas, augers, lettered olives, calico scallops, slipper shells and small whelks are the Siesta Key regulars. On the bay flats add crown conchs, banded tulips, sea urchins and the occasional sand dollar, plus crabs, shrimp and small fish that only show themselves after dark.
When to go
Low tide, especially the hour either side of it, exposes the most sand. Winter cold fronts stir the Gulf and push shells onto Crescent and Turtle Beach. The bay flats are good all year and calmest on a light-wind evening, which is exactly when our 8:30 PM tour goes out.
Before you head to the beach.
Yes, with a caveat: the Gulf beach has fine sand and mostly small shells, so people are often disappointed. The shelling is much better at Point of Rocks, Turtle Beach and on the bay-side flats, which is where a guided tour takes you.
At the south end of Crescent Beach, around 6900 Point of Rocks Rd. Walk south from Crescent Beach access and the rock formations start where the sand ends. Go at low tide and wear water shoes.
Yes, mostly on the sandbars and bay flats rather than the main beach. Live sand dollars are brown or purple and fuzzy; those go back in the water. Bleached white ones are empty and yours to keep.
1460 Siesta Dr, in the Sarasota-side bridge parking lot. Parking is free. Arrive 20 minutes before the 8:30 PM start to gear up and hear the safety briefing.
Night shelling & snorkeling tour in Siesta Key.
Our guided night shelling and snorkeling tour wades into the calm, shallow flats beside the Siesta Drive bridge. The group shares one 10,000-lumen LED light pod, the water stays under 4 feet, and your guide stays with you the whole time, so first-time snorkelers and kids do fine.
1 hour 15 minutes
About 60 minutes in the water, then a 15-minute show-and-tell on the sand where your guide names every treasure the group found.
All gear included
Snorkel mask and gear, aqua socks to keep, glow stick, safety noodle, whistle, mesh collection bag and a net. Just bring your swimsuit.
$60 adults · $45 ages 6–11
Kids 5 and under join free with a parent (book by text). Nightly at 8:30 PM, weather permitting. Arrive 20 minutes early.
Where we meet
1460 Siesta Dr, Sarasota, FL 34239 (the Sarasota-side bridge parking lot). Free parking. Look for the guide with the LED light pod.
Keep what's empty
Empty shells go in your bag to keep. Anything alive is observed briefly, then returned to the water. We protect the marine life we came to see.
No experience needed
Most of our guests have never snorkeled at night. You can wade and shell without ever putting your face in the water.