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Private Shelling Tours
Private Shelling Tours • 4–8 Hours • Hidden Beaches • Barrier Islands • Family Friendly • Dolphin Watching
Discover hidden shelling beaches, remote barrier islands, and pristine Gulf Coast shorelines on a private Shelling Tour designed exclusively for your family or group.
Step aboard our premium 2024 Axopar 29 Sun Top and spend the day exploring secluded beaches, shell-rich shorelines, and quiet barrier islands that many visitors never discover. Every private tour is customized around the day’s tides, weather, shelling conditions, and your interests to create the best possible experience.
Whether you’re searching for beautiful seashells, enjoying peaceful walks along uncrowded beaches, photographing coastal wildlife, or simply spending quality time with your family, every Shelling Tour offers a unique adventure.
Unlike crowded sightseeing boats, your experience is completely private, allowing you to explore Southwest Florida at your own pace.
Why Choose a Private Shelling Tour?
Shelling is about much more than collecting seashells.
It’s about slowing down, exploring nature, and discovering beaches where every wave may reveal something new.
Captain Pavel spends hundreds of hours every year exploring Southwest Florida’s coastline, continually discovering new beaches, sandbars, and shelling locations that become part of future private tours.
Sometimes the best shelling beach is one few people even know exists.
Every trip is carefully planned around:
✓ Weather conditions
✓ Wind direction
✓ Tide levels
✓ Water clarity
✓ Seasonal shell movement
Because nature changes every day, no two Shelling Tours are ever exactly alike.
What You May Discover
Every tour is different, but depending on conditions you may explore:
- Hidden shelling beaches inaccessible by car
- Remote barrier islands
- Quiet sandbars
- Natural mangrove shorelines
- Shallow crystal-clear waters
- Dolphin habitats
- Seabird nesting areas (season permitting)
- Scenic Gulf beaches
- Calm back bays perfect for families
Captain Pavel selects destinations based on where shelling is best on the day of your trip—not from a fixed itinerary.
What Shells Can You Find?
Southwest Florida is famous for its incredible variety of seashells.
During your adventure you may discover:
- Lightning Whelks
- Fighting Conchs
- Tulip Shells
- Olive Shells
- Moon Snails
- Coquinas
- Cockles
- Scallop Shells
- Oyster Shells
- Augers
- Alphabet Cones
- Sand Dollars (empty only)
- Coral fragments
- Sea glass (occasionally)
Every tide brings something different.
Finding shells is always part adventure and part surprise.
Captain Pavel is happy to help identify your discoveries and share interesting facts about many of the shells you find.
More Than Just Shelling
Although shelling is the focus of the trip, many guests discover that the day becomes much more than simply collecting shells.
Along the way you may also enjoy:
- Dolphin watching
- Bird watching
- Island exploring
- Beachcombing
- Swimming
- Wildlife photography
- Relaxing on quiet beaches
- Scenic cruising through Southwest Florida’s beautiful waterways
Some families spend more time watching dolphins than collecting shells—and that’s perfectly fine.
Every private tour is designed around what you enjoy most.
Perfect For
Private Shelling Tours are ideal for:
- Families
- Couples
- Friends
- Grandparents with grandchildren
- Nature enthusiasts
- Photographers
- Bird watchers
- First-time visitors
- Returning Southwest Florida guests
No shelling experience is required.
Captain Pavel is happy to help children and adults learn where to look, what to search for, and how to identify many of the shells they discover.
Captain Pavel’s Local Knowledge
Finding exceptional shelling beaches isn’t luck—it’s local knowledge built from spending hundreds of hours on Southwest Florida’s waters every year.
Captain Pavel continually explores Southwest Florida’s coastline, monitors changing tides, and discovers new beaches, sandbars, and shelling locations that become part of future private tours.
The beach producing the best shells today may be completely different next week.
That’s why every Shelling Tour is customized to maximize your experience.
What to Bring
For the most enjoyable Shelling Tour, we recommend bringing:
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Camera
- Comfortable beach clothing
- Water shoes or sandals
- Towel
- Drinking water
- Light snacks
- Small bag or bucket for shells
Captain Pavel provides a comfortable boat, local knowledge, and a memorable adventure—you simply bring your curiosity and sense of discovery.
Wildlife You May Encounter
While searching for shells, you may also encounter Southwest Florida’s incredible coastal wildlife, including:
- Bottlenose Dolphins
- Manatees (seasonal)
- Ospreys
- Bald Eagles
- Brown Pelicans
- White Pelicans (winter)
- Great Blue Herons
- Snowy Egrets
- Roseate Spoonbills (occasionally)
- Rays
- Horseshoe Crabs
- Numerous shorebirds
Wildlife sightings vary throughout the year, making every trip unique.
Every Tour Is Different
No two Shelling Tours are ever exactly alike.
Every tide, every season, and every stretch of shoreline offers something different—that’s part of the adventure.
Some guests discover incredible shell collections.
Others spend the day watching dolphins swim beside the boat.
Some enjoy peaceful walks along quiet beaches.
Others simply relax and appreciate the natural beauty of Southwest Florida’s coastline.
Whatever the day brings, every private tour is personalized around creating lasting memories for you, your family, and your friends.
Why Guests Love Private Shelling Tours
✓ Completely private experience
✓ Flexible itinerary
✓ Beaches selected for the day’s best shelling
✓ Comfortable premium Axopar 29 Sun Top
✓ Experienced local Captain
✓ Family friendly
✓ Frequent dolphin sightings
✓ Beautiful barrier islands and Gulf scenery
Book Your Private Shelling Tour
Escape the crowds and discover Southwest Florida the way it was meant to be experienced.
Join Captain Pavel aboard a private boat and explore hidden beaches, remote barrier islands, beautiful seashells, coastal wildlife, and unforgettable scenery—all at your own pace.
Whether you’re searching for rare shells, introducing children to the wonders of the Gulf Coast, or simply enjoying a peaceful day on the water, Captain Pavel will create a private shelling adventure you’ll remember for years to come.
Book your Private Shelling Tour today and start discovering Southwest Florida’s hidden treasures.
Welcome Aboard
Our 2024 Axopar 29 Sun Top
Every adventure with Florida Gulf Discovery begins aboard our premium 2024 Axopar 29 Sun Top—a modern boat designed to deliver exceptional comfort, stability, and performance on the waters of Southwest Florida. Whether you’re exploring hidden islands, searching for dolphins, collecting seashells, or enjoying a breathtaking Gulf Coast sunset, you’ll experience a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride from start to finish.
Designed with guest comfort in mind, the Axopar 29 features spacious seating, two convenient tables—including one in the shade—and an open layout that provides excellent views of the surrounding waterways and wildlife. Every detail has been chosen to create a relaxing and enjoyable experience for guests of all ages.
Although the Axopar 29 is designed to accommodate more passengers, Florida Gulf Discovery is licensed by the United States Coast Guard (OUPV/Six-Pack) to carry up to six paying guests. This allows every tour to remain private, uncrowded, and personalized, giving your family or group plenty of space to relax and enjoy the journey together.
Whether you’re joining us for a dolphin tour, shelling adventure, eco tour, island excursion, or sunset cruise, you’ll experience Southwest Florida aboard one of the region’s most versatile and comfortable adventure boats.
Your private adventure begins the moment you step aboard.
Policies for Every Tour
REFUNDS
Feel Secure with Our Refund Policy
If you book a charter and we must cancel due to inclement weather, we will try to reschedule your charter to another time-slot. If we are not able to reschedule, then a refund of your deposit will be issued. Cancellation examples include high winds (over 20mph), colder temps (below 55 degrees) and high rain chances (over 80%).
If you need to cancel your boat charter due to any reason, we need at least 72 hours notice in order to receive a deposit refund. If your notice is less than 72 hours, the deposit refund will be forfeited.
If you cancel your charter within 24 hours of pickup, or if a no call-no show scenario happens, we will charge your credit card on file the total price of the boat charter. There are no exceptions!
**Please Note: A credit card transaction fee will be taken out of the deposit, if you cancel your charter. We appreciate your understanding.
SAFETY
The boat is designed for medium to small sized people to feel comfortable during the trip;
There are no service for disabled people on the boat;
While on board, listen carefully to the captain’s comments and instructions;
At high speeds, walking inside the boat is not allowed;
There is no smoking allowed on the boat;
In Florida, children under six years old must wear a USCG-approved life jacket at all times.
WHAT TO BRING ON
Alcohol is fine, so bring cocktails if you wish. No glass beer bottles, but wine and champagne bottles are OK.
Please, NO LIQUOR WITHOUT MIXERS (NO SHOTS). No Red Wine.
Bathing Suits, Sunglasses, Hats and Light Jackets in the winter months.
Lotion Sunblock Only – NO SPRAY SUNSCREEN ALLOWED!
Please, NO Glitter, Tanning Dyes, or Oil Sunscreens – they will stain.
Just plain old regular sunscreen, please and thank you!
FOOD CHOICES
You may bring food on the boat, but please do not bring food or drinks that can stain the floor and seats. Sandwiches, charcuterie boards and fruit & veggie trays are examples of food that work great on this boat. Thank you for your consideration!
If you would like to take the boat to a waterfront restaurant, this is an option, but it will take over an hour off your boat time. Our Half & Full Day Charters do include this option, or please call if you are looking for something specific and we can arrange a customized cruise.
AMENITIES
1. Ice & Cooler Space (Please do not bring large coolers as they take up space on the boat – Small coolers are fine.)
2. Towels – if you don’t bring your own;
3. Sunscreen – if you don’t bring your own;
4. Disposable plates;
5. Swimline Water Seats & Large noodle floats;
6. Two 10’6″ paddleboards (On Request with Additional charges)
7. e-Foil (On Request with Additional charges)
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