Diving for Pearls. - April 15, 2012
Oceanlady
Tue 1 Jan 2013 02:13
Hope all Ok, We have had a lovely time in Manihi, yesterday we went with a
local called Fernando to his Oyster beds, he showed us the whole process,
of how he catches the baby shells, then we went to the grown Oysters, we all
got in the water and had to cut down our own string of Oysters, then he
took
us to his work shop where Dad & the other men opened the Oysters,(Fernando
gave a demo) and we had to see if we had a pearl inside, if we did, he
let us keep them.
The natural pearl is misshapen so he showed us how he cut them out with a
scalpel and inserts a small Mississippi river white pearl with a section
of the Oyster to grown the perfect round one that he can sell.
The discarded Oyster shell, he them sells to Japan where they make pearl
buttons.
it was very interesting, also by his work cabin were hermit crabs, the
children of the family that we have got friendly with were lining them up
and doing crab racing
He cleaned the Oysters & gave us them for our tea, fresh bread that he had
baked and fresh coconut.
We are off now to the next Atol (the lagoons that are like huge lakes)
where
they say the snorkeling is very good, so fingers crossed.
Bye for now lots of Love Mum & Dad - Margaret & Alan xxxxxxxxxx
Please print one for Nan
