Vacationing family uncovers a 'Jaws'-dropping Lido treasure

Many visitors to Lido Beach spend a quiet afternoon perusing the shoreline for interesting seashells and other finds, but one family visiting this July encountered something more substantial lurking below the water.

Amanda Catherine said her husband, Garrett Peirce, went free diving off Lido Beach, where the pass meets the ocean, when he spotted a large, triangular dot on the seabed.

Courtesy image

"Before the trip, he actually researched Florida fossil hunting and identified the best beaches and areas to search for megalodon teeth, based on waterways, depth, the previous '100-year storm,' etcetera," she wrote to the Observer.

She said he then did a free dive 15 feet down off the shore with only his snorkel gear.

"We were incredibly lucky, and it was such an exciting moment for our whole family," she explained.

She shared photos of their discovery online on July 6, garnering 15,000 reactions and prompting other beach lovers to share stories of their own discoveries.

The military family of five has traveled the country extensively, from California to Virginia, and Amanda said they have been stationed at a variety of beaches throughout his career.

She said this special souvenir will be an outstanding reminder of their time in Tampa.

Though neighboring Venice Beach holds the title of the "Shark Capitol of the World," their find goes to show that, with a sharp eye and bit of luck, a fantastic find could be hiding anywhere in local waters.