Englewood REVIEW’s in-depth interview with Chuck Uselmann, a retired, passionate fossil diver whose recent finds off Manasota Key have captured the imagination of Florida and well beyond.
It’s not every day you get to sit down with a man who’s plucked a shark’s tooth the size of his palm from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico. But Chuck Uselmann doesn’t fit neatly into any ordinary category. Part adventurer, part scientist, and part storyteller, he’s made a name for himself among divers and fossil hunters along Florida’s west coast. His recent dive off Manasota Key, where he surfaced with not only a megalodon tooth but also a whale’s ear bone, a dolphin rib, and even a horse tooth, sent shockwaves through the local fossil-hunting community and made him something of a local legend.
ER: Chuck let’s start with the big one. Tell us about the day you found that enormous shark’s tooth.
Chuck: That day was something else. I went out with Aristakat Charters, which is kind of the gold standard around here for fossil dives. We were only about a mile and a half offshore. You can see land the whole time, but down there, it feels like another planet. The guides know these spots, little structures and ledges on the sea floor where the heavy stuff settles. Not just sand, but pebbles, bones, and if you’re lucky, teeth. I’m not a pro diver, so I always pay for a guide. It’s worth every penny. That day, right as I was thinking I’d found nothing but gravel, I brushed my hand through the sand and there it was, thick, black, and sharp as the day it fell out of a megalodon’s mouth maybe 20 million years ago.
ER: What was it like holding that tooth for the first time?
Chuck: I’ve picked up thousands of little shark teeth on the beach, but this was massive, hand-sized. You can feel the weight of history. You think about these ancient monsters, megalodons, some of them up to 60 feet long, swimming in this very water. It’s like shaking hands with the past.
ER: Your adventure didn’t stop there. You also found a whale ear bone, a dolphin rib, and even a horse tooth. How common are those finds?
Chuck: The whale ear bone, people don’t realize how dense those are, but they’re easy to spot once you know what to look for. I’d found one before, so I knew the shape. The dolphin rib was a first for me, and the horse tooth? That’s what really blew people’s minds. My guide had one in her sample kit to show us what’s possible, so I knew what I’d found right away. It’s not unheard of, but it’s rare enough to feel like striking gold. The Gulf has been land and sea over the millennia. Horses, camels, and mammoths all roamed here when Florida was more savanna than swamp.
ER: Why is Manasota Key and Venice such a hotspot for these fossils?
Chuck: It comes down to geology and luck. Millions of years ago, Florida was underwater. Sharks lived, hunted, and died out here. Their teeth settled in ancient riverbeds, mixed with bones from land animals when the water receded, then got buried and preserved. Storms, tides, and currents are constantly exposing new layers.
ER: You mentioned always diving with a guide. Why is that so important, even for experienced divers?
Chuck: Safety is everything. Down there, you need a buddy. If something goes wrong, you want someone who can help untangle you or share air. And the guides here have eagle eyes. They spot things I’d never notice, tiny bits of bone or tooth poking out of the sand. Plus, four eyes double your chances. And I always ask about the air tanks. I got sick once from bad air, so now I insist on seeing their air quality certificate. The best companies, like Aristakat, are happy to show you.
ER: Let’s talk about luck. Do you always come up with treasures, or does it take persistence?
Chuck: Oh, persistence is everything. I’ve had a couple of lucky dives and a few where I surfaced with nothing but sand in my boots. It’s like beachcombing, but underwater. You might go a dozen times and find only tiny teeth or manatee bones. Then, suddenly, you get a day like l had, and it all pays off. It helps if you’re a little obsessed, and I am. My wife and I both get a kick out of the hunt.
ER: How did you end up here, diving off the Gulf Coast in retirement?
Chuck: We looked all over for a place to retire. Tried the western U.S., Arizona, California; nothing clicked. Then a friend recommended Englewood. We came down, spent a few weeks, and realized this is paradise. Warm winters, uncrowded beaches, water like you remember from childhood. I love Montana in the summer, but winter here is just beautiful.
ER: What advice do you have for someone who wants to try this for themselves?
Chuck: Do your homework. Research the charter companies. Ask about guides, air quality, and safety procedures. Don’t go alone. And be patient; it’s not always a treasure hunt. But when you find something, it’s all worth it.
ER: Last question: Of all the places you’ve lived and explored, where does Englewood rank for adventure?
Chuck: High. Real high. The Gulf is unpredictable, rich with history, and every dive is a chance to touch the past. For an adventurer? There’s nowhere better.
If you ever find yourself on Manasota Key, keep an eye on the surf and an ear out for stories like Chuck’s. Because beneath the waves, the past is always waiting to be found.
For more information on Aristakat Charters, go to aristakat.com.
