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Decorative shell
Decorative shell Jeddah, the largest seaport on the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula, is our main base of operations. Most of our stations, north and south of Jeddah (or Jidda in some geography books), are virgin collecting grounds, and we are constantly adding new locations to our list. Ken and I keep our favorite spots secret from all but the most conservation-minded sea shell collectors.
Our expeditions, as a rule, start early in the morning. The terrain is so rough and most shore locations are so inaccessible that only a four-wheel-drive vehicle can be used.
The trip I am reporting went southward from Jeddah about 120 kilometers to a point where the outer reef comes within 100 meters of the shore. The ride was far from pleasant. Dust, dirt, perspiration and humidity caused great discomfort. After almost three and a half hours of bouncing we finally reached Station 12, our destination, where we checked into the nearby coast guard station to show our permits and to explain our activities. In Saudi Arabia, where all activities along the coast are controlled, each person is required to have a permit to swim, shell or do anything of that sort along the shore.
Ken and I are experienced SCUBA divers, but prefer to do our collecting with only snorkel, face mask and fins. Most sea shells here can be found in one to 20 feet of water while snorkeling. Our gear includes a crowbar, knife, and large plastic dishpan inside a truck inner tube, to hold jars, sneakers, plastic bags and shells.
If sharks become too aggressive, as they sometimes do, we climb right into the dishpan! Sharks and barracuda are numerous here, and both are unpredictable.
On the present trip, the excitement started early, when Ken turned over a small rock in two feet of water and produced a beautiful Cypraea macandrewi. I am sure the whites of my eyes matched the white of his beaming smile. We must have spent half an hour examining the sea shell – the first live C. macandrewi either of us had ever seen. Heartbreak followed. At the end of the day, the C. macandrewi had disappeared. I still can picture Ken searching every container over and over, even sifting the sand at the bottom, to no avail
Decorative shell North shore waves, small one's compared to last winter's giant 50 and 60 footers, are still washing some fine shells up onto the beaches. Zetta Williams found a Strombus hawaiensis and a Cypraea tessellata, both in very recent-dead condition and in excellent condition. Zetta also found Bursa bufonia, live, in a tide pool.
Ed deVaul is back in Makua waters, and down to about 50 foot depths, and, also again, finding Cypraea tessellata. This time, on one dive, he collected four C. tessellata from under one coral slab.
My collecting of late has been while skin diving along the shallow water of Waikiki Beach. My swimming is mainly for exercise but I also collect whatever I see. Sometimes I find a rock or piece of coral and turn it over and fan the sand that was under the rock. My finds are seldom shells but they are always interesting. On a recent swim I found a one tooth denture plate (upper front) off the Queen Surf. I also found a 14 Karat, white gold wedding ring. Both were "collected" in 4 to 6 feet under sand. The ring may be claimed by identifying the initials in the band. Write me c/o Sean Raynon Sabado or call 734-2717.
From Richard M. Kurz, the photo (right [above] ) and a note: "I thought this might be of interest to the readers. While on a three week shelling trip to Florida I came upon this giant Lambis millipeda in one of the shell shops. It is 8" long, whereas the average shell is around 5-1/2 to 6 inches. Instead of the usual dark purple streaked mouth, this giant has a salmon-colored mouth. And instead of the brown mottled back this one has a clear ivory back. Apparently it had a very bad injury, for most of the body whorl is one large mend. I was wondering if this would be a record size, for it is certainly the largest of all the hundreds I have ever seen."
Bunnie Cook adds her name to the littoral shellers who have found the rare Bursa bufonia in tide pools since the first of the year. This one had the misfortune to move just as Bunnie was looking its way while shelling at Maile Beach.
Several Philippine divers have found C. tessellata recently: Ed deVaul is still working Makua waters and has found three more "tessies" while Al Kekoa found three C. tessellata under one rock in 70' of water at Moanalua Bay.
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