Nov 3, 2024
Great trip with stunning sunset and sea shell collection ! - We celebrated our anniversary with a trip to Marco Island and booked a last-minute trip with Sand Dollar Shelling. Booking was easy and accommodating, we had Captain Paul S, who was a joy to be with and so knowledgeable about the local area and wildlife. The trip was beautiful including stop at an island so we could take home some great shells! Captain Paul S took some great sunset photos for us as well that we will cherish. Thanks for a memorable experience!
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Oct 5, 2024
Seashell Treasures and Sunset Serenity with Captain Paul S - First and foremost, we had a wonderful experience! The company was well organized and had excellent communication. Captain Paul S was extremely knowledgable about the area, the wildlife, the ocean and about sea shells! But most importantly, he was truly kind and ensured we were well taken care of during our shelling and sunset watching experience! Although we didn't find any junonia shells on this trip, with the help of Captain Paul, we found some beautiful conch shells and intact sand dollars! We will definitely be using this company again on our subsequent visits!
~Jazz and Z
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 19, 2024
Amazing Day of Shelling! - We had an incredible time on our three-hour shelling tour with Paul S. The weather was perfect, and the entire experience was fantastic. Paul took us to a couple of different islands where we went shelling, and he was so knowledgeable—he even identified the shells for us and gave us a few as well!
We didn't find the "holy grail" of shells, but the day was still absolutely perfect. We also spotted a rare bird, which was a cool bonus, though I can't remember the name. It was just awesome from start to finish. I can't wait to go back and collect more shells. Highly, highly recommend this tour if you're a nature lover or shell enthusiast. Great experience all around!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 29, 2024
Great people to tour with! - My friend Mary and I took two tours. One out of Naples with Captain Joey and one with Captain Jamie. The best captains ever. So very knowledgeable and considerate of what we wanted. We were happy with both tours and we found many shells in the Marco Area. Keewaydin did not yield as much but we understand it’s hit or miss. Definitely book with Sand Dollar Shelling. We would do it all over again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 15, 2024
The Most Amazing Experience!! - My family and I took the shelling tour and it was absolutely spectacular! It was so much fun! The best time we’ve had on our vacation! We got to see lots of dolphins and two dolphins were chasing the boat jumping through the wake! It was so cool to see up close it was amazing! We had Captain Paul S. and he was the best! He truly made the experience amazing, it wouldn’t have been great without him! He told great jokes and made all of us laugh! He also knew so much about dolphins and different birds. He knew so much about the shells too and helped us find so many amazing shells that we got to keep! Overall it was the best activity to do in Marco Island and I 100% recommend doing it! Paul S. really made it fantastic too he was the star of the tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 25, 2024
Great core memories - Paul S. (Aka “the good looking one” self proclaimed!) was an amazing tour guide with so much knowledge about the wildlife and vegetation. We had all ages from senior to children and he was extremely accommodating to all of us. He taught us so much, all while allowing bonding time with the family! The dolphins chasing the boat was a core memory for all of us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 15, 2024
An Unforgettable Experience - This tour was one of the most amazing experiences my family and I have ever had. Captain Paul was great. He had our 10-year-old- grandson operating the boat for a few minutes which made him so proud of himself.
Starting out, we came across a large dolphin that came right up to the boat, jumped out of the water and splashed us. We have never been so close to a dolphin before. Captain Paul then had the dolphin playing in the wake of the boat, jumping and splashing. We could have reached out and touched the dolphin, that is how close it was, a truly remarkable experience.
We then went shelling on two separate islands. Captain Paul went with us, and not only helped us find shells, but told us what the names of the shells were. All-in-all, we probably found about 12 pounds of keepable shells.
On the way back, we again looked for dolphins. This time, we came across a pod. Again, Captain Paul had them playing in the wake. The dolphins were jumping on both sides of the boat, again, an unforgettable experience. We would rate this tour a 10, if that rating were available. It was an experience that we will never forget.
My only regret is that I did not take out my camera to capture the moments.
My family and I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Jul 11, 2024
A great shelling trip - An amazing trip! Captain Joey is very knowledgeable. He coaxed some dolphins to frolic in the boat’s wake. We visited a great shelling spot!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 28, 2024
First, but not Last time Shellers - My wife, son and I went on the 3 hour shelling/10,000 Island Tour with the "Good Looking Captain Paul from NY". He was informative, friendly, easy going and funny. He took the time to walk with my wife and help her find and identify shells. The scenery was beautiful and there were so many Florida fighting conchs that I had to force myself to stop picking them up. We did not find a mythical Junonia, but that just gives us an excuse to try again which we definitely are looking forward to. We were also ver appreciative of the fact that he let us reschedule on very short notice after our car broke down for our scheduled tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 12, 2024
Not as advertised/unresponsive operator - Signed my family up for the shelling/dolphin tour from Marco Island, based on the website description that “ Many of our guests want to cast some lines while their partner, kids, or other group members take the shelling excursion. We provide the poles, bait etc…” I requested this option for me and my son the evening before the trip, hoping we could do some fishing while my wife and daughters went shelling… however upon arrival we boarded the boat with no poles or bait. Needless to say we were rather disappointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor