The Sand Dollar Secret

Wanna know how to find sand dollars in Florida?  Well, I'll tell you.   At least how to find sand dollars if you live in Naples.

 First:  The time of year has to be right.  It seems as if Aug. and Sept are the best months.  Last year we went sometime in late Sept. early Oct. and found huge ones.  This year we went last week and found medium sized ones.   We will go again this weekend and see if they have grown.   I think the later the bigger they are- but if you go to late they will all be gone.  We are going to try and find out what time of year that is exactly.

Second:  You have to go out in the water to find them.  Take a snorkel, mask, and fins and go off shore a ways.  And walla- the land of sand dollars.  Thousands, and thousands  and thousands of them.  It is sooo cool to snorkel around and see them all over the ocean floor.  You will be able to see thier little paths of where they have "walked".

Third: Find the dead ones.  At this time of year most of them are living- and you only want to collect the dead ones.  You can tell they are dead because they turn a much lighter color after they die.  Plus if you pick up a live one, you know it.  They have little wiggly hairs all over the bottom of it.  There are probably 50 living to every 1 dead one we found.  

Fourth: Dive down and pick them up.  If you aren't very comfortable diving in the ocean, make sure you have a husband or kids that are.  When you see a dead one, just point to it and send your kids down to retrieve it!  Also, take a boogie board out with you to put them on as you collect them.  They are SUPER fragile and break easily.  

Fifth:  Take them back to the beach with you and watch everyone crowd around in amazement asking where you got all the awesome sand dollars!

Now for me, the next step has been to spray them with a clear spray paint to strengthen them.  Then wrap them and put them in a box.  After we move I am going to get a huge shadow box and put them in it as cool display.  It is going to be awesome!

 

When we go this weekend I am going to take our camera and video record it.  I'll post it on youtube for people to watch.  
As a kid we would go to California to the beach and I would search and search and search for sand dollars.  I am so happy we have found the secret!  Tell anyone you want, cause there are plenty:)