Set off from 188 Old Tybee Rd, Savannah, Georgia, for a hands-on fossil hunt along the Georgia coast. The Sharktooth Hunt Excursion offers a salt-scrubbed, low-tide search for fossilized shark teeth and marine relics that have eroded from the coastal plain’s phosphate-rich Miocene and Pliocene deposits. Small charter boats put you on shifting sandbars and shell-strewn beaches where generations of storms expose teeth, vertebrae and the occasional bone fragment.
This is a trip built for curious eyes and willing hands. Guides from Savannah Cruise Company lead short beach sweeps and teach simple detecting techniques—how to read a sand bar’s contours, where to slow your rake through shell hash, and why darker, glossy teeth stand out against pale sand. The excursion blends a coastal naturalist’s explanations of local geology and tide dynamics with practical, family-friendly instruction. Expect to see barrier beaches, tidal channels, smooth oyster reefs and wrack lines heavy with shells and seaweed.
Beyond the thrill of discovery, the outing is a primer in coastal processes. The coastline here is dominated by low-relief beaches, salt marshes and maritime forest; erosion of ancient marine deposits exposes fossils that date back millions of years, making the shore an open-air museum. Dolphins frequently arc near the boat, and flocks of shorebirds probe mudflats at low tide. Tybee Lighthouse and the outline of Fort Pulaski sit within sightlines that link this working coastline to the area’s maritime history.
Practical details are straightforward: launches from the Old Tybee Rd slip minimize travel time from Savannah, and most excursions last half a day, so you can pair a morning hunt with an afternoon at the island’s restaurants or a visit to nearby historic squares in Savannah. The guides provide basic collection gear; bring a sturdy bucket, sun protection and shoes that can get wet. The experience is appropriate for families, gearheads and amateur paleontologists alike.
What makes this trip stand out is its combination of place and pedagogy—real fossil-bearing geology delivered by guides who know where storms and tides concentrate finds. It’s not a guaranteed treasure trove, but the search itself is an active, sensory way to connect to the Atlantic coast’s deep history. For visitors to Savannah looking to mix beach time with a focused outdoor lesson, the Sharktooth Hunt Excursion is a memorable, tactile slice of Georgia’s coastal character.
Most tours take small groups so you can ask questions and get hands-on help; children over five enjoy the hunt with supervision. Check tide tables—the best searches are at falling and low tides—and arrive early for limited parking at the launch. The operator supplies basic tools; bring water, a small snack and a zip-top bag to keep discoveries dry until you return home each day.