I'm new to Conch-L. I've been a collector since age 5 at least. Really got
the shell bug on Long Boat Key, FL when I was 9. I've primarily
beach-collected (and snorkeled) in Florida and various Caribbean islands,
Gulf of California, 5 days in Jugoslavia, a week or so in Hawaii. Now I'm
living in North Carolina and going to the beach every chance I get.

Since I've been beach-bound, I've veered towards the micro shells, which
for me are every bit as graceful and beautiful as the larger, more obvious
prizes. (Of course, it's harder to get a definitive identification with the
available shell books.)

Here's some questions: In 3 weeks, I will be going to Kerala in southern
India. Does anyone know of good collecting spots in that vicinity? Reefs?
Beaches with good grit? (I know about Lakshadweep islands off Kerala but
the cost of a flight and SCUBA is probably prohibitive).

Also, on the return flight, I'll be staying in Kuwait for a day. I know
that the Persian Gulf is very shallow and that there was massive
contamination with petrochemicals in the aftermath of the War. Is there any
point in my hiring a taxi to go to some of the southern coastline there to
look for mollusks for a day?

David Kirsh