Do you need to be Dive certified?

Do I need to be dive certified to go fossil hunting with Dusty Discoveries?

Yes, you do need to be dive certified to join our fossil hunting dives. The required certification is Open Water Diver. You can earn this certification through reputable organizations like PADI, NAUI, or SSI. This ensures you have the skills and knowledge to dive safely while searching for incredible fossils like Megalodon teeth and more!

Why are there so many shark teeth in florida?

Why are there so many megalodon teeth in Venice Florida?

Venice, Florida is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World thanks to its unique combination of prehistoric history and coastal geology. Millions of years ago, the area was submerged underwater and served as a thriving shark nursery during the Miocene and Pliocene eras. As sharks naturally shed thousands of teeth in their lifetimes, these fossils settled into the sea floor and became part of the Peace River Formation an ancient fossil-rich sediment layer beneath the Gulf. Today, ocean currents, storms, and erosion regularly uncover and wash these teeth onto the beaches and shallow waters near Venice, making it one of the best places in the world to find fossilized shark teeth, including rare megalodon specimens.

Is the Megalodon still alive?

The megalodon, one of the largest predators to ever live, went extinct around 3.6 million years ago and despite popular myths, there's no scientific evidence that it still exists today. The youngest known megalodon fossils date back millions of years, and no modern sightings, sonar readings, or recent teeth have ever been verified. These giant sharks thrived in warm, shallow seas not the cold, deep oceans some claim they might still inhabit. While the idea of a living megalodon is fun to imagine, finding one of their massive fossilized teeth today is a true glimpse into Earth’s ancient past.

How do i clean my fossils?

So you’ve ventured to the depths of the ocean floor and found some killer fossils, but you’ve noticed your earth treasures are covered in an algae-like substance or incrusted with barnacles and ocean debris. To clean your fossils, start by soaking them in equal parts apple cider vinegar and water for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. After soaking, here’s a pro tip: use a cuticle file to gently pick off the remaining debris. We’ve also found that carving tools from your local hardware store do the trick for more stubborn spots! Happy fossil hunting and fossil cleaning from all of us at Dusty Discoveries!