Collect the “Sanibel Six” on National Seashell Day, June 20!

The “Sanibel Six”? I’ve heard of the African Safari “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and cape buffalo) but the “Sanibel Six” is new to me. It’s a collective term for the six most common shells found on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Exactly which shells are they? Good question! They are the Lightning Whelk, the Lace Murex, the Alphabet Cone, the Florida Fighting Conch, the Banded Tulip and the very shiny Lettered Olive.

When you come to the beautiful beaches of Sanibel ad Captiva to collect your treasures, please be aware of the following guidelines:

1. Never collect live shells. When in doubt, put the gently back in the water. 2. The best time for shelling is one hour before and one hour after low tide. 3. Watch for full and new moons. They have a higher gravitational pull on the tide and reveal more seashells. 4. Storms churn up the ocean floor sending more shells to the surface and the shore for collection.

June 20 is also the first day of Summer and spending the day at the beach, collecting shells would be a great way to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Where are the best beaches on Sanibel and Captiva? Stop at VIP and ask one of our knowledgeable realtors. They can give you a map to help you find the best jewels of the sea! We love to talk about our beautiful islands and look forward to chatting with you soon!

Photo courtesy of Olmes Sosa

VIP Realty Sanibel & Captiva 1560 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel 33957 239.472.5187 Open daily for your convenience. Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM and Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM.

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