Shell Seeking on Bull Island

Bull Island is one of the most popular and about an hours drive south of Myrtle Beach. Shell seekers, from everywhere in the country, come here to find these treasures. Sand dollars are the most popular finds on Bull Island, a short ferry ride from McClellenville SC. However there are many seashells, starfish and seahorses waiting to be picked up and carried home.

Some tips on shell seeking are to plan you hunt at low tide. The tide washes the shells ashore. We are asked not to take living creatures from the ocean, as they are a part of the food chain and to stick to looking on the shore instead of in the water. If a sand dollar has small hair on its body it is alive.

The next step is to preserve your finds. First soak them in fresh water. The water will become cloudy. Repeat this process until the water remains clear. Next soak your finds in 70% bleach for a few minutes and let them dry in the sun. To add luster and shine and further preserve your finds brush them with a mixture of white glue and water and you will have a souvenir of your stay on the coast of South Carolina.