Shell Hunting...anyone?

[TheSpec4Jim]

Does anyone remember shell hunting? I remember doing that many many times while over in Okinawa. My wife and I would grab the "Okinawa Passtimes" and check the "Passtime Tide Table" and if I wasn't working and the tide was out we would head out to the coral reef in search of the shells. I remember having to make sure out pant legs were tucked in because of the possibility if getting bit by a Blue Ring Octopus because we usually went at night shell searching. Though I never saw one, one of the guys caught a huge Octopus, then let it go. I also wasn't lucky enough to land any huge shells though there was a couple of times some did. The picture I just uploaded is all that I have left of what I collected. I think most were given away. I did manage to pick one of the shells up here about two years ago at a yard sale for 5 cents. It's the big one. Though it's pretty, it obviously doesn't have the same sentimental value as the others do.

Is it still possible to go out on the coral reefs and hunt for shells now? Does anyone have pictures of shells they collected from the reefs?

Jim

[Trail]

So... I LOVE walking the beach for rocks and shells but try not to since I tend to bring and accumulate a bunch of rocks and shells that just lay around.

If anyone recommends a particular beach to scan, let me know.

::: damn it, I need to get back to studying :::

[TheSpec4Jim]

I can't remember all the places I went as it was back between '75 to '77. I do remember going out in front what was then "US Army Hospital"(Camp Kuwae) as some of the times. I remember climbing over the sea wall and making my way across the coral reef. Can't remember what I used to carry the shells in though. I do remember ruining a lot of shell finishes because I put too much bleach in the water to kill the critters inside. When someone told me to use just a little bleach, they meant just a little. For some reason.....well, due to my stupidity...I figured if a little was enough to kill them, then adding a lot will do it faster. Beaches :scratchchin:, I can't remember if there were a whole lot of beaches over there in my time. Maybe they were there, but I sure don't remember but a few and that's only because I remember somewhere there was sand. I remember mostly coral reefs.

Jim

[Trail]

Thanks Jim. I've always used an old canvas bag. I've always soaked the shells in bleach as well, just to get the smell out at least. I've accidental brought home some critters though. One shell I left in the bag but I had forgotten to take care of it. Well, a poor hermit crab died inside sticking out (yes I felt bad) and it plain looked cool. "Pepe" is sitting on my kitchen windows sill. He's now sort of falling apart since he's become very brittle in the sun but nothing last forever I guess.

Also, just a tip for people who may want to polish the shell s to spiff them up, lightly apply some mineral oil (mineral oil only! Any thing else will eat away the shell) to the shell. Also scrub away some of the algae the may be on them with plain ol' sand right away when you pick them up. Get off as much as you can and it will help cleaning them up later much easier.

[P_chan]

Walking around the coral at low tide is always a good time. Especially for the kiddies! Just don't get caught when the high tide comes back:D

I found a really cool large spider conch while diving once. There was a teeny tiny hermit crab living in it so I took it anyways. I dropped it but managed to find it again and basically carried this thing with me my entire dive. Got back to the shore......left it on the sunabe seawall. Damn......it was going to be my coffee table center piece:D

This is what it looked like

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pbKM4qxmq4c/RtpB2whoKqI/AAAAAAAAB8A/z2w1tGGjBhY/s400/03spider.jpg