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Sanibel Island Information

Sanibel Island is a haven of white-sand beaches with excellent restaurants, good shopping and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Sanibel is located at 26°26′23″N 82°4′50″W / 26.43972°N 82.08056°W / 26.43972; -82.08056 (26.439608, -82.080456). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.16 square miles (85.9 km2). 17.21 square miles (44.6 km2) of it is land and 15.96 square miles (41.3 km2) of it (48.13%) is water.

Sanibel is a city in Lee County, Florida, United States, on Sanibel Island. The population was 6,064 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2006 population of 6,066. It is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The city is on Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast of Southwest Florida, and is linked to the mainland by the Sanibel Causeway. A short bridge over Blind Pass links Sanibel to the unincorporated town of Captiva on Captiva Island. More than half of the two islands are preserved in its natural state as wildlife refuges.

Sanibel Island is home to 15 miles of unspoiled beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, 50 types of fish, 230 types of birds, 250 types of shells and 0 stop lights.

Its Florida and that means sunshine! Make sure you wear with a sunscreen with a high protection factor (SPF) lotion. That sunscreen is not made out of gold so be sure to re-apply sunscreen after swimming and at regular intervals throughout the day. Keep you head covered with a hat and protect your eyes with good quality sunglasses. I'm not making fun of your nose, but it does stick out so use zinc ointment it and other sensitive and highly exposed areas. its no secret the The sun is strongest between 10:00am and 3:00pm and don’t be fooled by clouds and haze. They magnify rather than cover the sun’s rays.
Water reflects and also increases the burning potential of the sun’s rays. Use an aloe vera product on monor burns and head to doctor if you start to blister.

Water is everywhere in Florida but the most important water is the water you drink. Stay hydrated. If you plan on participating in other outdoor activities drink at least 12 ounces of water before you step out the door. Carry a water bottle with you at all times, even if you’re only walking or lying on the beach. After coming in from the sun, drink water beyond satiation, and continue to do so throughout the day. Juice and sports drinks are okay, but water is best. Remember that alcohol is very dehydrating, so limit wine, beer and liquor intake as much as possible.

Florida is the thunderstorm and lightning captial of North America. At the first rumbles of thunder, seek shelter immediately. Never stay in the water during a thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder you can be struck by lightning.

On a hot Florida day the indside of a car in Florida can get as hot as an oven. Do not leave pets or children in a car during a Florida summer day. It is unlawful to leave small children and pets locked in cars in Florida because the heat can be fatal within a very short time.

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Common Sense Beach Swimming Rules

Swim within the "Safe Bathing Areas", if marked, at all times.

Florida sunshine is intense. Please be careful when sunbathing and use sunscreen with a high SPF

Learn to Swim - Learning to swim is the best defense against drowning.

Never Swim Alone - Always swim with a companion. At the very least, have someone onshore who can call for help.

Don't Fight the Current - Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. If caught in a rip current, don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow, and a short swim parallel to shore will bring you to safety. The same forces that cause rip currents also cause longshore currents. These currents are most evident when waves hit the shore at an angle. This tends to cause the water to be pushed along the beach away from the direction of the oncoming waves. Usually, longshore currents are less hazardous than rip currents because they move along the shore, not away from the shore, but they can knock children and weaker adults off their feet. More importantly, longshore currents can feed and increase the power of rip currents. In other words, the longshore current may move along the shore, then turn offshore to become a rip current.

Swim Sober - Alcohol is a major factor in drowning. Alcohol impairs swimming ability and good judgement.

Don't Float Where You Can't Swim - Often, non-swimmers dangerously use floatation devices to go offshore, If they fall off, they can quickly drown. The only exception is a person wearing a Coast Guard approved life jacket.

Don't Dive Headfirst, Protect Your Neck - Diving headfirst into unknown water and striking the bottom can lead to serious, lifelong injuries, including paraplegia. Check for depth and obstructions before diving, and then go in feet first the first time. Use caution while bodysurfing, always extending a hand ahead of you.

Helpful Sanibel Island Links

City of Sanibel

Sanibel Chamber of Commerce

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Sports Car Illustrated Magazine

National Interactive Air Route Traffic Control Center Map

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