Crazy things you won't believe were recently discovered on Florida beaches

The recent news of a humpback whale washing up in New York made me think about what weird things have been uncovered on Florida's beaches. It turns out, the answer is a lot -- and not even that long ago! So, prepare to break out the metal detectors, water shoes and sand sifters because after you read this article aboutcrazy things recently found on Florida beaches you're going to be either rushing to --or from-- our coastlines. 

1700s Spanish Coins

Stock photo of old coins

Let's be honest, we will never fully let go of our childhood dream that the next time we go to a beach we will walk away with a pirates long lost treasure -- usually, though, we're happy if we even find just a sand dollar. What if, though, all hope is not lost and there is still treasure out there waiting to be found? 

That's exactly what happened for one man in the spring of 2020. According to news articles, the man was using a metal detector along Florida's Indian River Shore, only to have it alert him to what he probably thought would be rusty cans below his feet. Turns out, he dug up a few silver Spanish coins from an old shipwreck dating back to the early 1700s. What was once worth only pennies is now worth an estimated $6,000. 

READ ALSO: You can hunt for treasure right now at this island near Jacksonville & it's totally FREE​

A severed human foot... still in the shoe

Stock photo of an old shoe

I can't even tell you how many times I have come across a lonely, tattered and forgotten shoe on the ​beach. Never once have I thought to pick them up to look inside, but maybe next time I will after hearing this story. 

Back in 2014 a severed human foot was discovered inside a shoe at Peck Lake Beach in Jupiter. Reports concluded that the foot appeared to be naturally detached, and further investigation revealed that the foot belonged to a missing 64-year-old local boater. The story gets weirder, but I'll leave that for another day. ​

Blue Dragons

Stock photo of a Blue Dragon Sea Slug

We're not talking about a Pokemon, though it might look like one. Though native to the Atlantic Coast, these tiny sea slugs are pretty rare to see in the water, let alone washed up on shore - and that's probably a good thing. Small as they might be, they're venomous little critters that love to feast on Portuguese man o' wars. 

As stated above, sightings are rare, but in 2018 several of these terrifyingly beautiful nudibranchs were washing up along the Atlantic coast. 

READ ALSO: 10 Florida bugs that you don't want to mess with​

Megalodon teeth 

Stock photo of shark teeth fossils

Big things used to rule our oceans, many, many years ago, and we are still finding proof of that today. People dig up prehistoric shark teeth often, but finding a fossilized megalodon tooth as big as your hand is like finding a needle in a haystack. 

One man got super lucky in his quest to find these teeth of monstrous proportions when he uncovered -- not one, but two -- in the span of a few weeks in July 2021. The bigger of the teeth measured in around 4 inches! 

READ ALSO: The "Shark Tooth Capital of the World" is located in Florida & you can leave with handfuls​

New whale species 

Stock photo of a whale

As large as they may be, some species of whales have successfully managed to go undetected until recently, including the incredibly rare endangered species now called Rice’s whale. 

After a few years of debate and one exhumed whale body later, it was finally announced in 2021 that the 2019 dead whale that washed up in the Everglades was indeed a new species.

Cocaine, lots and lots of cocaine 

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Though it's not to say that they don't try, it's really no secret that the Mexican drug cartel has a habit of using the ocean as a way to transport "the goods" into the States - but sometimes they get scooped up (or lost) before they reach their intended destination. 

In one of the many, many examples, just this June over 1 million dollars worth (roughly 30 kg) of the powdery substance was found on a central Florida beach -- during a turtle nesting survey nonetheless. Imagine making a 1 million dollar mistake for the cartel. Yikes. ​

Not-so-mysterious message in a bottle

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In what seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime wish-come-true tale turned out to be a too-good-to-be-true joke when a man thought he discovered a message in a bottle dating back to 1987 just this year. The message and bottle were indeed found at a Florida beach, however, after making headlines and gaining virality on the internet it was later revealed that the bottle founder's son had played a prank on him. 

For what it's worth, the message, dated for May 16, 1987 read, "Dear person who finds this I want you to try to return it to me my name is Zack Williams and if I'm dead by the time you try to return the just keep it I put it in the ocean at Myrtle Beach SC."