I guess I can add a story here. Last March (98) I spent a week and a half in
St. Croix for a field trip with my school. Most of the other students were
not very interested in shelling or doing research etc. I kinda was on my own.
The last full day we were there, I needed to finish up an algae count and got
someone to drive me over to the fringe reef where I was working all week. Two
other people came, but they were in the bay portion sunning and I did not see
or hear them. That particular day, the waves were breaking offshore at about
15ft. It was pretty windy, but I really wasn't all that concerned because I
was close to shore and in only about 1ft or water. But because there was a
serious risk being out there, I did have my farmer johns on. Well, as I was
finishing up my algae count, I spotted this little white blur under one of
the rocks. I went for a closer look and By god, It was a Trivia nix, Alive
and Kicking. At that particular moment, I was oblivious to the waves etc. I
went down to pick it up, and as I had it my hand, I got SLAMMED with a huge
sleeper wave. It picked me up and bashed me against the cliff walls. It
totally shredded my wetsuit as well as my back and I was extremely luck I did
not hit my head, because if I did, I most likely would have been in snail
heaven. That wasn't the worst part. The worst part, is that I LOST THE SHELL
as well as all my field notes and collection bottles of unidentified algae's.
I had to get my act together really fast, because there was another one
coming in really fast, and it was HUGE. I got myself to the little beach area
and just keeled over. I guess after it was all said and done, I should have
gone for stitches, but we were leaving the next day. I have to say that the
entire experience was the DUMBEST thing I have ever done, because If I had a
buddy with me, I probably would have had the warning to get out of the way.
So a little advice to everyone (who doesn't already know this) Shell with a
buddy, Do counts with a buddy, Swim with a buddy, snorkel with a buddy, walk
on the beach with a buddy, walk on rocks with a buddy etc. Don't Be
Alone!!!!!!! I could have smacked my head and no one would have known. And If
I smacked my head, it was most likely I would have drowned.
Sarah Watson
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Sarah Watson
Silver Spring MD
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" One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can only
collect a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few. "
-Anne Morrow Lindbergh
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