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📝 How (and Where) to Sign Your Tour Waivers We want to make your shellventure as smooth and stress-free as possible—including the paperwork! Here’s everything you need to know about how to sign the required digital waivers before your tour: When Do I Get the Waiver Link? As soon as your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive a text message  with a personal link to your guest portal . This link is unique to your reservation and contains everything you need to get ready for your trip—including the waivers. Where Can I Find the Waivers? In your guest portal, you’ll see: Tour date and countdown What to bring Launch location and important reminders Once you start scrolling down you’ll see a blue button at the very bottom  that says SIGN WAIVERS . Just click it and complete the form for each guest in your group. What If I Don’t Sign Right Away? No worries—we’ll remind you! If you haven’t signed by the day before your tour, a reminder email will be sent from peek.com  with the waiver link again. Be sure to check your spam or junk folders  just in case it lands there. Do All Guests Need to Sign? Yes— every person attending the tour must have a signed waiver , regardless of age. That includes children, even infants, as required by our insurance and Coast Guard regulations. Need help locating your portal link or waiver? Feel free to reach out and we’ll re-send it! See you on the sand soon! 🐚🌞

If you're open to sharing the boat and excited to meet fellow shellers, our Shared Tours  are a fun and budget-friendly option! These tours let individuals or small groups book by the seat, with a maximum of six (6) total passengers per tour , in accordance with USCG regulations. Shared Tour Guidelines: Guided Tours (Keewaydin or 10k Islands): These tours require all 6 seats to be booked  in order to operate. If the tour isn’t full, it may be rescheduled or canceled . Unguided 10k Islands Tours: These may run with as few as 2 guests , though we aim to fill all 6 seats when possible. We'll contact you if the tour needs to be adjusted due to low turnout. Unguided Keewaydin Tours: These also require all 6 seats to be booked . If the tour doesn’t fill, it may be rescheduled or canceled. You can check how many seats are left at any time directly on our booking calendar . If you'd rather not worry about whether a tour will fill, or simply want the boat to yourselves, a Private Tour  is the way to go. One flat-rate booking secures the entire boat for your group (up to 6 guests)  and guarantees your tour—no matter how many seats you actually use. Pricing is equivalent to six shared tour seats , and your booking includes both the boat and the captain. Pro tip:  If you don’t see any private tours listed on the schedule, you can still make it a private tour by booking all 6 seats on any shared tour that fits your preferred date and time. Contact me for options!

Why Freak Shells Are the Coolest Finds on the Beach One of the most fascinating parts of shelling isn’t just finding something pretty—it’s finding something weird . We’re talking about those rare, head-scratching shells that look like nature threw the rulebook out the window. Around here, we call them freak shells . These aren’t necessarily rare species. In fact, most freak shells start out as totally common varieties. What makes them special is what happened next—something went off-script. Maybe a predator took a bite, and the shell kept growing anyway. Maybe the mollusk had a genetic mutation, or the shell twisted into an odd shape thanks to environmental stress. The result is a one-of-a-kind natural sculpture. What Counts as a Freak Shell? A freak shell might have: A twist or bulge in the wrong place Unusual ridges or missing spines Wild color patterns or partial albinism A healed-over break or puncture wound Instead of being “damaged,” these shells show survival, resilience, and adaptability. They tell a story. Each one is like a fingerprint—no two are ever the same. Why Collectors Love Them Seasoned shellers know: finding a freak shell is like finding a hidden treasure. They’re conversation starters. They stand out in any collection. And best of all, they’re reminders that imperfection can be beautiful. So next time you're combing the beach or sifting through tidal debris, keep an eye out for the oddballs. That shell with the weird twist or scar? It might just be the coolest thing you find all day! Here are a few of my favorite freak shells in my personal collection: 1. The Twisted Lightning Whelk: - Species : Lightning Whelk - Where I Found It : Washed ashore on Kice Island in 2020 after a windstorm. - Why It’s Special : This whelk is a true oddity. Normally, whelks have a long straight siphon canal. My find, however, has a dramatic twist—its entire siphon canal is contorted into a tight twisty spiral, likely due to a growth abnormality caused by an injury or environmental stress. The shell’s twisted half looks like a twizzler. It’s a testament to nature’s ability to create art from adversity. How do you suppose this whelk's siphon canal became this twisted? 2. The Pointy Nutmeg: - Species : Common Nutmeg - Where I Found It : Half buried in muck near the shoreline on Kice Island in 2019. - Why It’s Special : Nutmegs typically have an egg shape with whorls indented at the sutures. But this cutie has one large shouldered body whorl which gives its aperture a distinct pointed crease. This rare shape is likely a genetic mutation, making it a one-in-a-million find. The shell is otherwise flawless, but its distinct shoulder gives its aperture a point which sets it apart, almost looks the lovechild of a Nutmeg and a Whelk. It feels like I added an extraterrestrial to my shell collection! Nutmegs don't have shoulders, but this one has one rather large shoulder! 3. The Ruffled Collar Fighting Conch: - Species : Florida Fighting Conch - Where I Found It : In a shell pile along with hundreds of other "normie" Florida Fighting Conch shells on shore on Kice Island in 2023. - Why It’s Special : This conch shell is a remarkable survivor. He grew to the beat of his own drum! Conchs typically have blunt knobs on their shoulder whorls. But this treasure has a knobless entire upper shoulder which protrudes out like a thick rounded and flattened collar. The result is a shell with an almost ruffled, baroque appearance. It’s a reminder of the ocean’s challenges and the resilience of its creatures. In love with this ruffled collar Fighting Conch! Honorable Mentions: Check out the aperture of this juvenile Fighting conch! Pigment mutation gives this mature Fighting Conch a distinctive white stripe! Tips for Finding Your Own Freak Shells - Join a Tour : Book a spot on tour with SWFL Shell Guide to explore prime shell-hunting beaches. Reserve your spot now ! - Look Closely : Freak shells often blend in with common ones and hide in plain sight. Sometimes the quirk isn't readily apparent! - Get to Know Your Shells : The more time you spend collecting and learning, the easier it becomes to recognize when something is truly unique. Once you know what a shell should  look like, you’ll be better at spotting the oddballs! Let’s shellebrate the quirky, beautiful imperfections of the sea together. Happy shell hunting, and I hope to see you on a tour soon!

Easily ID look-alike shells with side-by-side photos! A helpful guide for SWFL shellers and Marco Island tour guests who love beachcombing. Shell Lookalikes: Spot the Difference Think you’ve found a fig snail, but it’s actually a pear whelk? You’re not alone! Here are side-by-side photos of lookalike shells that often get mixed up— spot the subtle differences and sharpen your shell ID skills. Shell Lookalikes: Gold Banded Cone vs. Florida Cone Spot the differences between the ultra rare Gold Banded Cone and a common Florida Cone Shell Lookalikes: Horse Conch vs Ribbed Cantharus Spot the differences between the tiny orange Horse Conch and a tiny orange Ribbed Cantharus SHELL LOOKALIKES SWFL SHELL GUIDE PAPER FIG PEAR WHELK Shell Lookalikes: Pear Whelk vs Paper Fig Spot the differences between the Pear Whelk and Paper Figsnail Now You Know: Alive vs Dead Sand Dollar Spot the differences between an alive sand dollar and a dead one Seashell Lookalikes: True Tulip vs Banded Tulip Spot the differences between a True Tulip and a Banded Tulip

Join SWFL Shell Guide Ali for unforgettable shelling tours to Southwest Florida’s top islands—Marco Island's Ten Thousand Islands, Kice Island, and Keewaydin. Discover rare seashells and more! Welcome aboard THE SWFL SHELL GUIDE Tour Experience! Explore the enchanting world of seashells and coastal wonders with SWFL Shell Guide's Boat Tours. Immerse yourself in captivating adventures set against the backdrop of Southwest Florida's pristine landscapes in the Naples Marco Island area. Whether you're drawn to the guided shellventures of the Ten Thousand Islands or the excitement of a beachcombing expedition to Keewaydin Island, we have the perfect tour to fulfill your desires. Embark on a journey with us, we offer both shared and private boat tour options that let you embrace the beauty of SWFL's shorelines while uncovering stunning seashells. Ali, your experienced and passionate sheller guide who founded SWFL Shell Guide in 2018, invites you to join an her on an extraordinary tour where every step is a discovery and every shell is a treasure waiting to be found. Come, let us take you on an unforgettable shelling escapade, where the shores of Southwest Florida unfold their magic. Book your perfect SWFL Tour today and create lasting memories in this enchanting coastal paradise! BOOK NOW 10k ISLANDS GUIDED TOURS Frequently asked questions GIFT Card for tours MEET YOUR GUIDE PICKS 10k ISLANDS UNGUIDED TOURS BOOK NOW book now swfl shell guide MERCH shop VIDEOS RAVE REVIEWS KEEWAYDIN island TOURS KNOW BEFORE YOU GO GIFT CARD for merch SEASHELL ID CONTACT KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK: Shared vs. Private Tours Cancellation Policy Guest Requirements & Guidelines

Get to know Ali, your SWFL Shell Guide—an experienced boat tour shelling host and passionate sheller who leads unforgettable shellventures through the Ten Thousand Islands Meet Your Guide mEET Ali Owner & Shell Guide | SWFL Shell Guide Ali is a born-and-raised Floridian with a lifelong love of the outdoors, salt air, and—most of all—seashells. What began as a small kayak shelling tour business in 2019 has since evolved into something much bigger: SWFL Shell Guide now offers guided and unguided boat tours through the stunning Ten Thousand Islands, helping guests discover the best shelling spots in Southwest Florida. Ali launched SWFL Shell Guide to share her passion for shelling and the unique beauty of the 10k Islands. After the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in outdoor adventures skyrocketed, and the business thrived. But when Hurricane Ian struck in 2022, Collier County prohibited commercial access to Caxambas Boat Park, where her kayak tours launched. Rather than give up, Ali pivoted—transitioning from kayaks to boats and expanding the business while staying true to her roots. Today, Ali personally guides guests on curated shelling adventures by boat, using her deep local knowledge and sharp shell-spotting skills to help others find their own treasures. Whether you’re looking for rare finds like the elusive Junonia or just want to soak up the sun and natural beauty, Ali makes the experience both fun and unforgettable. When she’s not leading tours, Ali is often beachcombing, photographing sunsets, or designing seashell-themed gear for the SWFL Shell Guide shop. (She creates all the patterns and designs for all merch herself!) Her past life in family and real estate photography helped build the foundation—but nothing has ever felt more fulfilling than being a full-time shell guide and business owner.