An eager crowd awaits the chance to dig in and find natural treasures among rocks, shells and pieces of coral dumped Feb. 23 in Anchor Park. Their removal from the beach is an effort to protect the outflow area of sand pumped during the renourishment process. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Sephora Charles
In Delray Beach, seashell hunters don’t have to comb the shoreline for treasure — they’re sifting through a city-made mound across the street instead.
Residents dug through a fresh pile of dredged shells at Anchor Park, chatting quietly as they filled their buckets and bags on Feb. 23. The chilly Monday morning shifted when a sudden squeal cut through the air.
Tiffany DeSilva of Lake Worth Beach laughed in excitement as she held a junonia, a rare find in Florida that can sell for about $200. Junonia shells are considered rare because they live in deep water and typically appear ashore after a major storm, DeSilva said.
This special treasure wasn’t found after a hurricane or tropical storm, but as a by-product of Delray Beach’s beach renourishment efforts that began Feb. 6.
The sporadic delivery of shells is temporary, lasting only until the end of the sand project, which has an April 30 deadline. Crews have been separating seashells during sand screening and dropping them off at Anchor Park — across State Road A1A from the beach and to the north of Casuarina Road — for people to collect.
“This is really cool that they’re letting us do this,” DeSilva said.
DeSilva, who’s been shelling since she was a little girl, said she’s been visiting the park every other day to find shells and meet “like-minded people.”
“I’ve met a lot of cool people, and I’m happy that I can call them my friends now,” she said.
Tiffany DeSilva of Lake Worth Beach found a junonia, considered to be a holy grail for shell collectors because of its deep-water habitat.
For similar reasons, Linda Horst, a Maryland resident who spends winters in Florida, said she is drawn to the park’s dredge pile.
“You get to meet so many different people and have a good time,” Horst said. “The majority of people are so nice, and they’re so willing to share. It’s really a great community of people.”
She describes herself as a “shell addict” who has been collecting for more than 30 years, finding joy in discovering her “dream shell” or “a really good shell.”
After collecting shells, Horst typically makes crafts for loved ones or displays them for sale while educating people about them.
Her passion for shelling correlates with her love for beaches. An item on her bucket list is to walk on every beach in the United States, she said. She’s yet to walk on the beaches in Mississippi and Alabama.
Being near the beach to pick shells has a calming aura and brings Horst relaxation, she said. “I definitely feel a lot closer to God here.”
While some shell collectors have decades of dredge pile experience, others arrived as curious newcomers after hearing about it through word of mouth.
Kaitlyn McLoughlin, a Colorado native, experienced pile dredge shelling for the first time at Anchor Park. Despite recovering from a snowboarding accident while visiting home, McLoughlin made efforts to participate in the fresh pile drop-off. With a seat cushion and a hand rake, she collected a bucket full of shells.
“Not being from here, it’s like a whole different type of appreciation for shells and the ocean. I never wanna leave now,” she said.
Max Chiorean, 20, from Boynton Beach was introduced to the Anchor Park pile by his friends. Chiorean arrived at the park around 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 23, hoping for a fresh shell drop for his first visit. Crews with a big truck came shortly after, dumped their load, and the community digging began.
Surrounded by people with years of experience, Chiorean said he felt comfortable asking others for their shelling knowledge and sharing with those who didn’t find shells. “There’s no real greed in this,” he said.
Above all, Chiorean said he finds joy in using his hobby, which makes him “feel like a little kid again,” to give back to those younger than him. He takes buckets of shells to the beach and gives them to children.
“It’s all about making memories and making people happy. I think the smile is worth it more than anything,” Chiorean said.
If You Go
What: Dredged shells from a beach renourishment project are being trucked to a park across the street from the Delray Beach municipal beach for the public to pick over.
Where: Anchor Park, 340 S. Ocean Blvd.
When: Through April 30, or until otherwise advised. The delivery of new shells to the park is sporadic and is not announced ahead of time. The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset.
Suggested equipment: Gloves, sand scoop or sifter, small rake or hand shovel, water shoes or sturdy shoes, mesh bags or small protective containers.
Info: Contact Delray Beach Parks and Recreation at 561-243-7250 ext. 7277.
Comments