Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

tropicdiver · 03-21-2004, 08:38 AM

I'll try to help you (not much of an expert on central Florida), but I might suggest you join virtualtourist.com and ask the question and you'll get loads of answers there.

The waters are generally clearer on the Atlantic coast, *BUT*, the waves are larger, which will make it harder to snorkel on the central Atlantic side.

Now, since you've shown an interest in snorkeling, perhaps I can suggest a bit of a day (or overnite trip for you, if you want to play in the water) and go to the Gulf coast side, just south of Venice, to a place called Manasota Key (it is between Venice and Englewood). If you go early in the morning, the waters are close to like glass and right off the coast is a huge fossil bed and the currents bring all kinds of interesting fossils (mostly shark's teeth) to shore. I have found that if you snorkel in about 2 to 3 feet deep water right off of the surf line and go in a zig-zag motion, that within an hour or so, you can fill up a four finger baggie full of shark's teeth. After getting all the regular sized shark's teeth you want, I normally will go out in about 4 or 5 feet of water (depending on visibility), where there aren't so many shark's teeth and just watch the bottom for "larger" teeth. Every once in a while, you'll get lucky and find a shark's tooth that will fit in the palm of your hand.

Now, you say you have a 5 year old? Want to expose her to the beach? Go south of Manasota Key about a 30 or so minute drive (south of Englewood) to Gasparilla Island (also known to the locals as Boca Grande - you can find links about this page on my south Florida page on my personal domain, btw). This island is paradise. It will cost you about $3.00 to drive onto the island. The shark's teeth are replaced with mountains of seashells. Drive down the island and explore the town (make sure to drive down thru the Banyan trees). Go south of town (following the beach road) and you'll see an old lighthouse on your right (this is called Range Lighthouse Beach). Pull over here (cost a couple of bucks to park). You can have a cook out, here, and there are rocks just off shore that you can snorkel and see some neat tropical fish and find some nice Florida Fighting Conch shells, too. The kid can walk up and down the beach and collect seashells to her heart's content. This is a really nice beach and rarely is there a crowd there. Again, the earlier you get there, the better, if you want to snorkel.

Contact me if you have any other questions and I'll be glad to try to help you about my neck of the woods. Wish I could help you with the Orlando area, but I normally avoid it like the plague.

Have fun!

03-21-2004, 08:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
tropicdiver Amazed Location: Austin, Texas	I'll try to help you (not much of an expert on central Florida), but I might suggest you join virtualtourist.com and ask the question and you'll get loads of answers there. The waters are generally clearer on the Atlantic coast, BUT, the waves are larger, which will make it harder to snorkel on the central Atlantic side. Now, since you've shown an interest in snorkeling, perhaps I can suggest a bit of a day (or overnite trip for you, if you want to play in the water) and go to the Gulf coast side, just south of Venice, to a place called Manasota Key (it is between Venice and Englewood). If you go early in the morning, the waters are close to like glass and right off the coast is a huge fossil bed and the currents bring all kinds of interesting fossils (mostly shark's teeth) to shore. I have found that if you snorkel in about 2 to 3 feet deep water right off of the surf line and go in a zig-zag motion, that within an hour or so, you can fill up a four finger baggie full of shark's teeth. After getting all the regular sized shark's teeth you want, I normally will go out in about 4 or 5 feet of water (depending on visibility), where there aren't so many shark's teeth and just watch the bottom for "larger" teeth. Every once in a while, you'll get lucky and find a shark's tooth that will fit in the palm of your hand. Now, you say you have a 5 year old? Want to expose her to the beach? Go south of Manasota Key about a 30 or so minute drive (south of Englewood) to Gasparilla Island (also known to the locals as Boca Grande - you can find links about this page on my south Florida page on my personal domain, btw). This island is paradise. It will cost you about $3.00 to drive onto the island. The shark's teeth are replaced with mountains of seashells. Drive down the island and explore the town (make sure to drive down thru the Banyan trees). Go south of town (following the beach road) and you'll see an old lighthouse on your right (this is called Range Lighthouse Beach). Pull over here (cost a couple of bucks to park). You can have a cook out, here, and there are rocks just off shore that you can snorkel and see some neat tropical fish and find some nice Florida Fighting Conch shells, too. The kid can walk up and down the beach and collect seashells to her heart's content. This is a really nice beach and rarely is there a crowd there. Again, the earlier you get there, the better, if you want to snorkel. Contact me if you have any other questions and I'll be glad to try to help you about my neck of the woods. Wish I could help you with the Orlando area, but I normally avoid it like the plague. Have fun! __________________ Bob Life is short. Break some rules. Last edited by tropicdiver; 03-21-2004 at 08:40 AM..