Sometimes one encounters a solid reef honeycomed with small holes. In this
habitat some of the previously exposed techniques cannot be applied.
However, I have used very successfully in Honduras a meat baster which, for
those who are not cooks, is a VERY LARGE syringe. I introduce the syringe
into a likable hole, scrape the wall a little to dislodge the micros, and
then suck them into the syringe. Afterwards I empty the syringe into an
appropriate container.

Emilio

>Hi:
>There are a number of techniques I use depending on the habitat.
>
>1st, I almost always have a pair of stainless steel tweezers with me.  I tuck
>them neatly up the sleeve of my wet suite  (or in the custom pockets I had
>made
>for them on my 3 mil skin) and as I poke around I can carefully pick up micros
>or other mall shells in the crevices that I could not otherwise get.  That is
>how I got 2 Pterynotus xenos in Honduras.
>
>For storage of the shellsÖ I have a small mesh bag made of no-see-um screen,
>with a draw string at the top.  I keep it tucked inside my wet suite at the
>neck line.  Then once I began using it, it is held on my left wrist with a
>lanyard.
>
>2nd ñ I buy inexpensive flat-oval pool nets.  The screen is fine enough for
>most micros.  You can swim the grass with it at night.  It is amazing what is
>on the grasses.  Simply dump it in a container when you get to the boat /
>shore
>and sort later.  I have done the same on silt bottoms, and could probably
>do it
>also on fine sand using it as a dredge.  I do not carry it very often.
>
>For storage of the net while diving I usually stick it up inside my BCD in the
>front.  It is sometimes a bit uncomfortable, but it beats dangling.  Someday I
>will experiment with other ways to carry it, like Velcro & a snap connector on
>a cord.  I usually use the net at the end of a dive for about 5 minutes before
>I come up.
>
>Leslie