WAUCHULA, Fla. — You may not realize that the Florida we know today is much different from previous years.

Experts will tell you that the Sunshine State has been underwater multiple times throughout its geologic history.

One person who knows this firsthand is Patrick Chasteen, who takes guests to area rivers to uncover the past.

“You never know when you’re going to strike gold,” said Chasteen.

Gold, of course, means finding fossils in waterways around the state of Florida.

When you head out with Chasteen and his company Fossil Funatics, you are provided with everything you need to find fossils that are buried in shallow waters of the river.

The Peace River and the Wachula Riverside Park are one of the more popular spots to uncover the past.

“We had, of course, had sharks when it was saltwater. And then when the saltwater disappeared, it was freshwater again. You’d have Megafauna such as mammoths, bison, mastodons, giant armadillos the size of a car,” said Chasteen.

Guests can expect to stand in waist-deep water sifting through the bottom of the river.

You will find many different kinds of shark teeth because the area was once underwater, teeming with sea life.

One of the most sought-after fossils is a megalodon shark tooth.

The megalodon was a shark the size of a school bus and many of the teeth fill up the palm of a grown man.

Emily Warner found one while Spectrum News was recording the event.

“It’s hard to picture an animal that could be something like in Jurassic Park. I am blown away because I don’t really find many big teeth,” said Warner.

Chasteen has been hunting for more than 10 years and believes he has found over a million fossils.

“Love to teach the hobby to new people. Most of the fossils we’re finding are between 12,000 years old and 5 million years old,” said Chasteen.

Fossil Funatics is open to all ages, and the cost is $90 per person for a five-hour tour.

It includes all your fossil finding equipment.