4 Hour Ten Thousand Islands Shelling Trip

If you’re even remotely interested in sea shells, do yourself a favor and book a trip with Florida Adventures. My friends and I joined Capt. Colleen for opening day at the Cape Romano shoal, and it was hands-down one of the most enjoyable excursions I’ve ever been on. Capt. Colleen is an absolute gem — a master captain and true master naturalist who clearly lives and breathes this ecosystem. She wasn’t just driving the boat and pointing out dolphins; she and her 1st mate Dylan (who is a marine mammal specialist) taught us the whole time, explaining the biology, tides, and history of the area in a way that was engaging even for experienced nature nerds. Dylan also helped us solve the mystery over who smarter, a dolphin or an octopus? Diplomatic answer- they are both equally as smart in their own way. Colleen & Dylan’s enthusiasm was contagious, and they made the day feel like an adventure with knowledgeable friends rather than a typical tour. Opening day at Cape Romano shoal marks the start of the SWFL shelling season and sometimes referred to as the “Black Friday” of shelling. But it’s such a fun way to kick the shelling season off and the boatloads of shellers attending were way nicer than any Black Friday shoppers. Capt. Colleen knew exactly where to point us for the best shell piles, and we came home with some nice specimens and a much deeper appreciation for the coastal ecosystem. If you’re looking for a shelling eco-tour that’s fun, educational, and led by people who genuinely care about the environment, book with Florida Adventures and ask for Capt. Colleen. I’ll absolutely be back!

Captain Colleen was a wealth of knowledge about the eco system and shelling! What an amazing trip. She was sweet enough to share some of her tips and a few finds with me :)

Colleen was amazing!! My sister and I had so much fun shelling and learning so much from Colleen. You could tell that she is passionate about the work that she does. We learned so much about the marine life, mangroves, dolphins, shells (and how to improve our shelling), turtles, and so much more. She even told us about some of the other incredible work she does, which includes seal turtle research and her primary work of cetology. We encountered a few different pods of dolphins on the way back, and it was amazing and intriguing that she could tell them each apart from such a distance. Though shelling was the main reason to go on this trip, I think my favorite part had to be the dolphins! There was a point when a young group of dolphins came to play with us by trailing behind the boat and using the current to swim on their sides, breach the water, and just play! If possible, I would request Colleen!!