Posted on 9/6/2022By the Ocean Reef Editorial Team
There's always something fun coming out of Destin!
The beautiful Emerald Coast is already world-renowned for its incredible beaches and calm, jewel-toned waves, but it may soon be known for something else—the world's largest sand dollar!
Recently, local Blake Dumas found a sand dollar measuring 6.5 inches and weighing 4.1 ounces. Dumas located the sand dollar at the SWARA Dolphin Reef off the Pompano Joe's Beach Access in Miramar Beach. While Guinness has yet to respond, this sand dollar appears to be the world's largest. It surpasses the current largest sand dollar on record, which measures 5.826 inches at its smallest diameter and 6.299 inches at its largest diameter.
Our very own Ocean Reef adventure photographer happened to be there to capture the find!
Have you ever seen a sand dollar while vacationing in Destin? They're fairly common here on the coast, so next time you're here, be sure to keep your eyes out. And if you do see one (or many), remember that living sand dollars are a brownish color and should not be bothered or removed from the beach as they play an important role in the ecosystem. The bleached skeletons of sand dollars, however, can make a fun souvenir of your Florida vacation.
If you're on the lookout for sand dollars, the best places to find them are on the beach shore or the second sandbar. The ones found on the shore are more likely to be sand dollar skeletons, meaning you can keep them. Explore the beach coastline in the morning, as the low tide and fewer people on the beach will make them easier to find. To see live sand dollars in their natural habitat, make your way to the Gulf's second sandbar, which is located approximately 500 feet from the sand. Simply grab your snorkel and paddleboard and get ready to explore the world beneath the waves.
Is your next Destin vacation coming up soon? Make sure to add sand dollar hunting to your vacation to-do list. Who knows, maybe you'll be next to find the world's largest sand dollar!
The Ocean Reef Editorial Team leads the market in vacation rental, real estate, and coastal lifestyle content, with decades of Destin & 30A expertise behind every story. As the area's largest locally owned and longest continually operating vacation rental company, we welcome over 200,000 guests each year and reach millions who dream of the beach. Our guides serve travelers, homeowners, and locals alike, sharing authentic knowledge you can trust-because this coast isn't just where we work, it's where our story began, and where we'll continue to welcome generations to come.
