Shelling, day and night
Day vs night shelling: which is right for your family?
An honest side-by-side, from the people who run the night tour.
The short answer
Day shelling is free, easy to start, and great for walking a beach and spotting color. Night shelling is a guided evening with a bright light, shallow water and a guide who helps everyone find something. They are different outings, and plenty of families do both.
Day tours are coming. For now we run one tour, every night at 8:30 PM. If you want to hear when day tours open, text 941-229-8372.
Day vs night at a glance
Day shelling
- Free if you go on your own
- Best on your own schedule, any beach you like
- Daylight shows a shell's true color
- Results depend on the tide and the day
- Florida sun and heat can be a lot for little kids
Night shelling (our tour)
- 1 hour 15 minutes with a guide, starting at 8:30 PM
- A 10,000-lumen LED light pod lights up the shallow water
- Under 4 feet deep, wade in from shore, go as shallow as you like
- Guides teach about the sea life and help everyone find something
- Cooler evening air, and all gear is included
What families actually find at night
Guests on our tours have held sea urchins, a small horseshoe crab, fish and starfish. Everyone gets a close look, then the animals go back in the water. Empty shells are yours to keep.
What a night tour looks like
How to choose
Pick day shelling if
You want a free, flexible beach walk, your kids go to bed early, or you like to take your time on your own.
Pick the night tour if
You want a guided activity, you like the idea of wading in with a light, or you are looking for something to do with kids after dinner.
Do both if
You are on vacation for a few days. Walk the beach by day, then book a night tour. Keep empty shells and put live animals back.
The night tour at a glance
- Length: 1 hour 15 minutes: about 60 minutes in the water plus a 15-minute show-and-tell on the sand
- Start: 8:30 PM every night, weather permitting. Arrive 20 minutes early.
- Price: $60 adults (12+), $45 ages 6-11, ages 5 and under free with a parent (book by text)
- Water: under 4 feet deep. You wade in from shore and no strong swimming is needed.
- Included: snorkel mask and gear (masks are optional), aqua socks (yours to keep), glow stick, safety noodle, whistle, mesh collection bag and net. One 10,000-lumen LED light pod per group.
- You bring: a swimsuit and a towel.
Day vs night questions
Is night shelling better than day shelling?
Neither is better for everyone. Day shelling is free and good for color and beach walking. Night shelling on our tour adds a bright light, a guide and a chance to see sea life up close. Many families do both.
Do you offer day shelling tours?
Not yet. Day shelling tours are coming. For now we run one tour, every night at 8:30 PM. Text 941-229-8372 if you want to hear when day tours open.
Will we find more shells at night?
Not necessarily. The tour is built around finding things together in shallow water with a light, then a show-and-tell on the sand. Keep empty shells. Anything alive is looked at and put back.
Is night shelling too late for young kids?
The tour starts at 8:30 PM and runs 1 hour 15 minutes, so most families are done by about 10. If your kids go to bed early, a day tour may suit you better once they open. Kids 5 and under are free with a parent.
Is it dark and scary for kids?
A 10,000-lumen LED light pod lights up the water around the group, every guest wears a glow stick, and a guide stays with you. The water is under 4 feet and you can go as shallow as you like. If a child has had enough, you can return to a lit resting spot on shore.
Can I shell on my own during the day and still book the tour?
Yes. Many families walk the beach by day and book the night tour for the evening. Keep empty shells you find and put live animals back.