Members of Friends of Pinellas Master Naturalists joined the Tampa Bay Watch Sandbar Snorkeling Excursion on June 27, 2026. We boarded our boat from the marina slip near the St. Petersburg Pier. After a short ride over shimmering calm water, we stopped by a sandbar east of south St. Petersburg. We could see the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the distance. The crew anchored in the sand, carefully avoiding the seagrass beds. Snorkeling flags were set out marking the area we were allowed to use. A double-crested cormorant dove by our boat and caught several fish. We were able to use a ladder to enter the waist deep water. With our dip nets we were able to observe spider crabs, shrimp, pipefish, hermit crabs, sponges, whelk egg cases, fish, sand dollars and seagrasses such as shoal grass and turtle grass.  The Marine Science educators collected some of these in handheld tanks to share with us on board. After we boarded the boat for our return trip, a bonnet shark joined us.  On our return trip we passed by shoals of schooling fish and reflections of towering clouds. The beautiful St. Peterburg skyline rose before us as we prepared to dock.  Please support the Tampa Bay Watch mission of fostering a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through community-driven restoration projects, education programs and outreach initiatives.