As the sea glass enthusiasts search in the surf of the Abaco Island beaches for colorful glass, there is another group of treasure hunters up at the high tide line looking among the sea weed for sea beans.

What is a sea bean? A sea bean begins its life as a tree, shrub, or flowering vine in a tropical rain forest in exotic places such as the Amazon Basin.  The seedpods fall from the plant into fresh water rivers and streams and are carried off to the ocean.  They drift with the ocean currents, where they may float on the surface of the sea for thousands of miles before washing up on to a beach, often many years later.  One might wonder how these “sea beans” can stay afloat for these long distances.  The sea beans, called “shinies” have internal air pockets within the seed.  The hard outer covering of these sea beans traps the air pocket within the seed.  Other sea beans, called “corkies” may float because they are lighter than water or have tiny air pockets within them.

Sea bean necklaces have been worn over the ages as good luck charms.  It is said that ancient surfers wore sea bean necklaces to protect themselves from the elements.  One of the beans, called a “sea heart” bean is often referred to as the “lucky bean” and would be carried by sailors for luck on long journeys.

There are many varieties of sea beans.  These are three of our favorites that we collect on the beaches in the Bahamas.

Our good friends, John and Brigitte Irwin, from Canada are as passionate about sea beans as we are about sea glass.  They spend the winter on their sailboat in the Abaco Islands, where John makes beautiful necklaces with the beans he has collected, as well as beans from customers’ collections.  John is a master at polishing the beans to a high gloss, thus making his necklaces collectors’ items. If you would like to acquire a sea bean necklace for protection, luck, or just for the joy of owning a beautiful piece of jewelry, you may contact John at  [email protected].

Remember to look among the seaweed at the high tide line the next time you are strolling along the beach.  In many places the sea beans are covered with barnacles and other debris, so you must look carefully.  Do not expect to find them shiny and clean, but do collect them to give to an expert such as John, who will shine them and make them into an item you will want to display and keep forever.