Dear Mel, The Seychelles is an exhalent taste and in my opinion it's one of the last paradises on Earth, not only for it's natural beauty but for the kindness of it's people. Just imagine islands set in turquoise lagoons, snow white beaches fringed with palm trees and protected by coral reefs, whilst the deep blue ocean hides vertiginous depths. Yes, the Seychelles will capture your hart for life, even in your case, that you ve be to quite a lot of fantastic places :-). Starting with Mahi, the capital island and one of the more developed (developed but not much), you have the capital Victoria (considered by some one of the smallest cites in the world) were no much happens. There is a small market were you can by fish, tropical fruit, crafts and not much more. In the centre of town, you have a replica of Big Ben (curious sight :-) ), where near it are several people selling shells and crafts on one of the side of the road. Here you will probably find and old lady shelling all kinds of shells, you might even find American shells to. This has one explanation, here son, a Sheller over he's 404s is the biggest collector on the island. I personally met this man but didn't have the opportunity to se his huge collection. From his words, he has been shelling for years and said he is still diving to collect his shells (sometimes diving to depths of 60 metres). He said to, that he help Mr. Tucker with the compendium, by offering for inspection shells of his personal collection . Prepare a bag of triad shells to tack with you on vacations once he will surly exchange with you. From what I can recall he is extremely interested in Cones, Cypraeas and Volutes and at that time he was looking for Conus vicweei, one of the few Cones he still didn't have. I can't seem to find his address at the moment, but will send it if I find it. Any way you just have to ask for him at the Museum or to his mother. One the other side of the road you have a small museum (free of charge at the time) where you will be able to see a wonderful shell collection (donated by this Sheller) with lots of rarities and surly some unofficial world size records. In town you have a nice restaurant/bar (the only one at that moment), for your ends of evening named "The place to see and bee seen", . The name of this restaurant/bar gives you the real idea of what the Seychelles are. It's a marvels place to refresh your thrust and list to Cherokee singers. Well, going directly to shell sights here goes: Mahi Island: Beau Vallon Bay (Nort-West): the most touristic place in the Seychelles but still very unspoiled. In the intertidal zone (rocky area one the right of Coral Strand Hotel) you will start realising the shellers paradise that the Seychelles really are. You will be able to find lot's of Nerites, L. scabra, L. pintado, C. moneta, C. annulus, sometimes C. helvola, Hastula hectica (among sand), Peristerina and Bursa speceis, Strombus mutabilis and lot's more; if you are lucky with the tides lot's of shell grit for the micros. If you decide to snorkel in the shallow reef and sea grass areas you will be able to find some Cone & Oliva speceis, Pleuroploca trapezium, and others. OH, don't forget to tack a look in the sandy areas in the bay, there you will find loads of Tec-Tec, local name for Donax shells, which, like in Mauritius, locals are use them for soop. Anse Htoile: (Noth-East): Very few tourists go to this beach since rocks and coral heads pope out at low tide, thus unsuitable for swimming. Here, you will be able to collect different Nerites, including Neritopsis radula; if you come across this specie I would appreciate some to add to my collection and give one to Sheller friend Jr. Powers, since I only brought back home, one specimen. You will also find a lot of Drups, Morulas, Cronias, Thais and Mancinella tuberosa specimens. Under rocks you my find Cypraea, like C. felina, C. ziczac and others. The Cones I collected here were basically one specie C. miles, with an incredible pattern. Anse ` la Mouche (South-East): A beautiful bay that during low tide a large extension of sand and sea grass is exposed. Lot's of Nassaridae, Naticas and Bivalves (Pinas to). If you snorkel in the shallow water lots of Cone species among seagrass. One the left side of the bay you will probably find a population of Strombus gibberulus (be patient, sometimes it tacks a while to find it). Exhalent pizzeria just across the road :-). Anse Takamaka (South-West): One of my favourite snorkelling spots with a magnificent sandy beach, with rocky areas on both sides and a spectacular coral reef full of incredible sea life. On the intertidal rocks you will fin once again Nerites especially large N. textilis, Littorinas and Monodonta labio (big ones to). In the sandy areas during low tide or snorkelling Terebras are also present. When snorkelling in the reef, or near by it, you will be able to spot large populations (I mean, really large) of Turbo argyrostomus, Tectus and Trochus speceis, loads of Vasum turbinellus and lot's of Pleuroploca filamentosa. I also found 9 different Cone speceis one left side of Bay just before the coral reef: C. miliaris, C. catus (orange and grey ones), C. coronatus, C. rattus, C. pravatus, C. sponsalis, C. glans, C ebraeus and C. chaldeus. Concerning Cypaeas, besieges local common ones I found a C. mappa, but since it had a crack on the tope, I left the animal to breed. Anse Bougainvile (South-East): A big rocky bay to look under stones and rocks for our precious treasures. Here you will be able to find lot's of different shells from Cerithidae to Cones to Phasianellidae Didn't snorkel here since the ocean was to ruff once it was monsoon season. Mahi offers you lot's of interesting calm bays for shelling, you just have to pick your favourite (Police Bay, Anse Mane-Lousie and Anse Aux Pins are also very interesting) The Island Of St. Anne (Marine National Park), is worthy to see, here you may hire a glass bottom boat to sea the beautiful reef. One the Island Shelling is forbidden, but one can appreciate to, other things in life besides them ... Here you will be able to se a Huge land Turtle the mascot of the Island and personally meat the owners of this private island. La Digue Island: I think there is no other place on earth like here. With only 2000 habitants and no cares (at least at that moment) travelling in this small island is maid by foot, bicycle or taxi ox. You can higher for a couple of days a small cottage, just a couple of passes from the beach. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are home maid with fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. No comments on the fantastic Sun set. In la Digue you can contact local fishermen to get you some of the shells on the other side of the reef, quite interesting shells appear. In Anse La Riunion you will find a Sheller's paradise with all sort of shells in the tidal zone. When snorkelling in the shallow reef big C. leopardus and Strombus lentiginosus are spotted quit frequently. La Digue is a lovely place to rest, appreciate nature, life and old traditions and storeis. Normally around October lot's of baby Tiger sharks come to eat in the shallows, a good time to dive in with them and feel like the dominant specie in water . There are also lot's of giant turtles on the Island and they simply love being cuddled under there neck. Birds and endemic lizards are a common sight to. There are plenty of other Islands in the Seychelles worthy to see, here are some accessible ones: Praslin, good for Terebras and has spectacular tropical forests with endemic palm trees over 900 years old, Conception, Therese, Bird Island (Nle Aride), thousands of Bird speceis, Marianne and Filiciti (small islands off La Digue), and so on and so on. One last thing, don't forget to drink a liqueur named Coco D4Amore and eat Salad de Millionaire and then tell me about it, oK :-). Hope you and the rest of the list enjoyed some of my experiences. Enjoy your self a "bunch" and then come back to tell us all bout it. Any more information you need I will happy to help. Tack care. Kind regards, Carlos (Portugal) P.S - Spectrum Guide to Seychelles, compiled and edited by Camerapix 1991 and Seychelles in Your Pocket (yearly ed.). the first one you may get it true Book Passage - 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard - Corte Madeira, CA 94925 (E-mail: [log in to unmask]) and the second mail to: Le Guide Del Leone Viola Explorer - System Bank s.r.l. - Viale Sondrio, 5 - 20124 Milano - Italy ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com