I wouldn't worry too much. Fellows like Ausi Ali tend to survive a lot of troubles in their area (Somalia has become VERY dangerous for Americans, since the US government started to think that places like Somalia need to be 'liberated'). It's been a troubled area for about four and a half centuries, and certainly became so, after the Brits and Italians left, having colonised and split up the place about 70 years ago. Ausi Ali knows what he's about. But it would be interesting for shells. Coral reefs stop at the southern end of Somalia, and don't take up again until inside the Red Sea, because of the currents, etc, caused by monsoons, off the East Arabian coasts. It would be nice to find a glamourous brand new shell, just like that Acteon eloisae found in Oman, in much the same circumstances. regards Richard PS Was Ausi Ali the fellow who showed you a huge pile of Cypraea moneta in Zanzibar, where you spent a whole day sifting through for left-handed ones? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------