Kiddie Pool

Shell Island is a beautiful, mostly undeveloped barrier island that offers a pristine natural beach & wildlife experience. The island is located on the panhandle of Florida and is accessible by boat from near Panama City Beach.  St. Andrews State Park offers ferry service to the island and private boat shuttles are available nearby.  Some of these vendors also rent pontoon boats which is another option for accessing the island.  Shell Island is about seven miles long and runs between St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The island is undeveloped: has no restaurants, no restrooms, and very minimal infrastructure.  It is adjacent to and part of St. Andrews State Park and it is a natural barrier island with sand dunes, coastal scrub, and wildlife habitat.  Hiking on Shell Island is mostly “off‐trail” or along the beach

The “Kiddie Pool” is a pretty unique spot at Shell Island —and it’s important to know that it’s not an actual swimming pool. It’s a naturally occurring, protected shallow-water area created by the rock jetties.  The jetty rocks shelter the area from much of the Gulf wave action, making it substantially calmer than the open Gulf beach. Local tourism information specifically describes it as a protected area for small children and beginner snorkelers.  The water starts very shallow near the beach and gets deeper as you move toward the rocks. It has traditionally been popular for wading and letting young children experience the water.  Even though it’s called the “Kiddie Pool,” there are fish and other marine life around the jetty. You can see tropical fish, crabs, rays and other small creatures. However, the jetty is connected to the inlet, and conditions can change with tides, wind and currents. There are also submerged rocks and deeper water around portions of the jetty. Parents should watch their children closely near the rocks.