Key West Beachcombing

Vase sponge washed up on Smathers Beach in Key West

Joyce spotted this beautiful vase sponge washed up on Smathers Beach.

It appears the color has been washed out of this sponge plus it is full of sand.

Sponge washed up on Smathers Beach in Key West

This is a common sponge washed up on Smathers Beach.

Mike holding a sponge that washed up on Smathers Beach in Key West

This is the normal sponge most of us are familiar with. We found it in the tideline of sea weed and other flotsam that was washed ashore on Smathers Beach.

Another vase sponge washed up on Smathers Beach in Key West

This vase sponge is sitting upright like they are when alive in the Gulf.

This vase sponge has been deposited on Smathers Beach by the last high tide.

Another vase sponge washed up on Smathers Beach in Key West

A vase sponge washed up on Smathers Beach with the last high tide.

I am not familiar with this type of sponge but it was washed up on Smathers Beach along with the other sponges and sea weed.

Sea fan a form of soft coral washed up on Smathers Beach in Key West

It is hard to see it but this is a sea fan that washed ashore on Smathers Beach. Generally sea fans will be bright pink. This one has been bleached out.

Another vase sponge that is almost on Smathers Beach in Key West

This vase sponge was still in the quiet water near the beach. I suspect it will be deposited on Smathers Beach with the next high tide.