>From: Kevin Czaja <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Bahama Islands Collecting >Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 17:43:28 -0500 > >Hi Mary Jo, > I just got back from a trip to Nassau and did a lot of snorkeling and >shell collecting around Nassau and Paradise Island. It was my first visit >to the Bahamas so I can't speak for the other Islands. Sadly, the >reputation for not so good shelling in Nassau/Paradise Island was backed up >by my experience (although I didn't get to the south side of the island >where I imagine there is less polution). There is a cove near Atlantis >(Love's beach) where I found some good shells snorkling and on the beach. >Also you can try a beach further East on Paradise Island called Snorkeler's >Cove. But all in all it was pretty slim pickings. I would recomend just >about any other Island to visit. If it had to be Nassau though, I would >recomend visiting nearby Blue Lagoon (Salt Cay) Is. (Ferry from Paradise >Island about a half hour and $25). That is pretty much where I found all >my good shells in some quantity. There is a little human made secluded >harbor area on the south side of the Island where I snorkeled in shallow >water and found many excellent shells (including 3 Cassis tuberosa's - one >amazingly over ten inches! - he was a bit worn and I didn't know how I >would go about transporting/killing him so I decided to only take his >picture). I also encountered a huge Manta (Sting?) Ray kicking up a bunch >of "smoke" flapping his wings on the ground. >-Take care, Kevin