Florida Keys Shelling Adventure - Queen Conchs are EVERYWHERE!!!!

[@LVVQA]

Omg I’m so happy I live in Florida… (I’m not even joking it’s beautiful here it’s like it’s a whole new universe)

[@AuntDi2]

I would love to visit the Keys!

[@kathycox6420]

This was awesome! I love the sea biscuits, juvie queen conchs and the milk conchs. What a great shell trip!

[@FloridaBeachWalks]

Awesome! I can't wait to one day shell in the Keys! "Happy Shelling!"

[@shannaprissyleamon1311]

Holy cow those were beautiful! Man I wish I could come do that! Hopefully one of these days lol

[@dianeb95]

A wet suit doesn’t even protect from moon jelly stings - I had several get me while on a snorkeling tour in the Keys. Went right through my suit! Albeit it was a jellyfish bloom at the time so there was no swimming away from them. Even so, it was magical to see so many with the sun shining through the water & making them glisten! I just took a deep breath & enjoyed the show 😄.

[@OceanSoulOhana]

Oh my goodness I can only imagine! Jellys are my favorite marine life to admire. SOoo beautiful! :) Thanks for watching

[@GonEntish]

Jellies can't sting through neoprene. But, once they are sliced and diced by boat propellors, tiny bits of tentacle and stinging cnidocytes (both can be transparent or nearly transparent) can go in and out of a wetsuit as easily as water. Depending on how well you suit fits, pour a jug of fresh tap water or even clean saltwater into your suit at the neck before you get off the boat, and there be may a little less likelihood of it filling with reef-water that contains stinging bits of moon jelly, or sea lice... another favorite experience.

[@JoanDeYoung]

Beautiful video! I just subscribed to your channel! My husband and I love to snorkel but do not own a boat. Can you give the mile markers or locations where you stopped? This would be so much fun to do. Thank you!

[@chrisscarnati8813]

We would love to know as well… thank you!

[@denisec4929]

What an awesome trip for you and Meg! Would love to do a trip and find those treasures. TFS

[@kathyjund7212]

I have never seen footage like this in the keys.. this was amazing! Thank you..

[@OceanSoulOhana]

You're very welcome! Thanks so much for watching!

[@karen6778]

Wow the water clarity is superb! Great video. Lovely collection of shells. There is something magical about the Florida keys. Thank you for sharing. 🥰🥰🥰 P.S. thanks for picking up the rubbish as well. ❤

[@OceanSoulOhana]

Thank you

[@thebexcomplex]

Wow fantastic finds! Is this area accesible by driving out there and snorkeling out? Or would you need a boat?

[@AuntDi2]

7:30 You can definitely see the rip current! 😮

[@manydiamonds9225]

I only get the shells that’s on the beach

[@SURFXLANI]

Omg those shells are amazing! I’m not sure if it’s my eyes but it’s kind of blurry for me but that’s ok! ❤

[@jenaaaay3150]

Do you sell them?

[@OceanSoulOhana]

We do if you have IG send a message to @meaghanblackman or lookup Meaghan Blackman on facebook.

[@theresapaeglow2340]

can you put a link to your gloves and your dive floats?

[@kathrynhandstad5509]

How do you clean your shells?

[@theresapaeglow2340]

Hello, thank you for the video. where in the keys were you? - near bahia honda in the beginning? and where else?

[@OceanSoulOhana]

We spent most of our time on the Atlantic side of Ohio and Missouri key.

[@eh4236]

My husband and I went snorkeling in Bahia Honda State Park last July and he found a Hawkwing shell, his first one. We go to Bahia Honda SP every time we are down in the Keys. I found a beautiful starfish. The water is very warm. We go every to Key West every July for about a week and spend a day up in Marathon to ride our bikes on the 7 mile bridge, then do Bahia Honda State Park then finish up with a sunset dinner at Sunset Bar and Grill across from the 7 mile bridge. They have a pool there at the restaurant. Highly recommend. We are going to try to do a snorkeling shell tour. We have done two 10k Island shell tours near Marco Island (July and this month). Amazing and the best shelling in Florida in my opinion. Looking to add Caribbean shells to my collection. Have fun.

[@darylgensler558]

How do you clean the shells?

[@drdrew3]

Unfortunately I believe you are 100% correct regarding the massive numbers of empty shells. This summer The Keys actually had a water temp reading over 100F which is an all time world wide record. The fish can escape but the gastropods can not survive as they live in the shallows. Most of those looked freshly deceased. More commonly in The Keys the shells are years old in awful shape. Fortunately going into this the queen conch population had made a huge comeback since becoming a protected species

[@OceanSoulOhana]

Thanks for watching and sharing.

[@GonEntish]

Low tides, especially during spring tides and king tides, have always killed conchs and other invertebrates. In fact, when these species were more common and collectors were fewer, there were many more shells left "empty" on nearshore intertidal flats. They were never empty for long... intact snail shells are a valuable commodity to the wildlife that use them for shelter. And, between hermit crabs and octopi, it was a common sight to see fairly large shells (not just conchs, but tulips, whelks, horse conchs, and other species moving in a very "un-snail-like manner," rapidly stumbling along, as a new tenant rushed to get its new found prize to the edge of the flat and the relative safety of slightly deeper water.

[@JillFarley]

I'm a teacher and want to get some shells for my disabled students to see. I am a certified scuba diver as of last year. I would like to go here for spring break, but where are these stops? If I get a hotel for my 84 yr. old Mom and I, what parts can I go in or drive my car to where I can get out and snorkel like you do?

[@hoppas77]

We are heading down there from Fort Myers. Can you tell me what beach area this is or a location?

[@marcelpeelen1441]

Hello holland here, we are going to de keys in December. At which mile point is Ohio key? I love to snorkel and shelling the same time.

[@trinawright4137]

Wonderful finds. Love the sea biscuits❤️ were you by Ohio Key?

[@OceanSoulOhana]

Thank you. Yes we shelled Ohio key. We mostly concentrated our efforts from Marathon to Bahia Honda state park.

[@bobbienielsen6860]

Where are you in the beginning of this video?

[@nh4759]

In Florida, it is illegal to harvest, kill, or harm a live queen conch, or to possess or transport one. This includes Bahama starfish. Harvesting or selling queen conch is also prohibited commercially. Violating these laws is considered a second-degree misdemeanor, which can result in up to 60 days in jail, a $500 fine, and six months of probation. Even unintentional violations can lead to arrest and charges.

[@GonEntish]

What a heart-breaking video! I thought we were finally putting this sort of pillaging behavior behind us. There are almost NO "unoccupied" queen conch shells, because once a predator eats any shelled gastropod (marine or terrestrial snails), if still intact, the shell quickly becomes a home for hermit crabs, octopus, mantis shrimps, cardinal fish and a wide variety of other fish and other invertebrates. The same applies to smaller shells, urchins and sea biscuits tests. During very low tides, even terrestrial hermit crabs risk their lives to scurry out onto the exposed "intertidal" sea-floor, hoping to find recently emptied shells they can occupy. The video's narrator saying, "I am sure you can find another home," as he evicts the tiny occupants further illustrates a complete lack of compassion for these tenants (almost always nocturnal species sheltering until sundown) but suddenly left homeless and at the mercy of diurnal predators during broad daylight. And, the collectors, by walking on the "live bottom" instead of snorkeling, are crushing beneath their feet the brittle branching red coralline algae (Goniolithon). No wonder this wonderful nearshore species is almost gone from Florida Keys waters. So, so sad.

[@cameroonkendrick6312]

Oceanic that vegan teacher