Treasures From The Deep, Part One

Collecting shells has always been a popular past time while walking the beaches, but now this has expanded to collecting sea glass. Sea glass consists of pieces of broken bottles that have rolled around in the sand and surf, and they have a cloudy, brushed appearance with smooth edges. White, brown, and green shards are easily found, but it is a treat to find the rare blue, pink, and red.


Competition is fierce here in the Bahamas, so Dave and I tend to go to beaches that are more obscure and out of the way. One of our favorite is known for being notoriously dangerous in high winds and seas. It is called Whale Cay (pronounced KEY). The ocean side of this island is mainly rock, or more specifically iron coral.

In order to get from the northern Abacos to the southern Abacos, there are two options to get around the shallow sandbanks that are on the Sea of Abaco side of the island. The first option is to go out in the ocean through Whale Cay Pass, then back inside to the calmer Sea of Abaco, or there is another inside route called ‘Don’t Rock’, that has less water depths and shifting sands, but takes less time. Both of these routes can be extremely dangerous with breaking waves when the seas are high, as the swells meet up with the shallower waters and cause the waves to break(many boats have been wrecked here). However, in a small boat, like our dinghy, we can go to the beaches on the ‘bay’ side and walk over the island and check out what has washed onto the rocks on the ocean side. It must be a shock for boaters transiting to see people walking around, and probably think we are marooned there. The last time we did this, Dave walked one way and I walked the other. Glancing down I saw a piece of sea glass, but said to myself, “Oh, it’s just one piece, I’ll leave it.” I walked a bit further and then there was another piece, and then more and more. Of course there was no way I could leave it there. Then I had a quest to find something to carry it all back in, and actually found a container with a lid still intact, and filled it up. In fact we leave the container in the dinghy for future finds now.


After collecting different pieces in various shapes and sizes, we all find different ways to display them. Some people put them in clear glass jars and vases, others make beautiful jewelry, and then there are some of us who use them in crafts, such as different sculptures and sun catchers. I have made quite a few wreathes and even picture frames.