Several years ago I began shooting video for a DVD on shelling. Initially, it was to be limited to the shells found here in the Florida Big Bend area, but then I decided that a much better program would include other excellent shelling destinations that range from the Bahamas to Cumberland Island in Georgia. And I'm glad I waited, as I feel I have some video that's (pardon the expression) "to die for!" The final two-hour DVD is entitled UNDERSEA TREASURES, as shells are (of course) treasure to us, but also the marine habitats in which they are found are natural treasures that we all hope to protect for future generations. To that end, 50% of any profits I may see from sales of this DVD will go to Project Reefkeeper to help in their efforts to protect fragile oceanic ecosystems!

    Okay, you want to know "how much?" So here's the deal. Order now through this web site and you can buy UNDERSEA TREASURES for just $24.99 plus $3.50 for shipping (or $5.50 for overseas orders). Everyone else pays $29.99 plus $5.50 for shipping ($7.50 for overseas orders). Payment can be check or money order (sent to the address at the bottom of this e-mail) or if you want to use a credit card, you can log onto www.paypal.com and send the payment to my e-mail address (yes, it's really that simple, just follow the directions after clicking on the "Send Money" tab). If you want to buy two discs (one for you and one for a friend) the cost is $45.00 and I'll pick up the shipping costs! If you feel in a devil-may-care mood, buy three DVDs for just $59!

Now let me tell you some of what you'll see on this DVD:

    Come with me and snorkel in the beautiful, crystal clear waters of the Bahamas on Great Abaco. From shallow patch reefs with their purple gorgonians and soft corals to the immense turtle grass flats, you'll see what it's like underwater to find shells like Cassis tuberosa (if you've never seen a live helmet, these will take your breath away) and the giant West Indies Chank, Turbinella angulata.

   Everything starts with a 90-minute flight from Fort Lauderdale over the Gulf Stream and then across the spectacular Sea of Abaco. Your little nine-seater lands in Treasure Cay, then you'll be whisked away on a 21-foot dive boat for a tour of this true island paradise.

    You'll also get the opportunity to see amazing footage shot during a night dive on the undersea paradise called "The Gingerbreads." This reef is literally "in the middle of nowhere" and many hours from any land. Here you'll see the "night life" which includes a shocking blue octopus, an unhappy nurse shark and fantastic basket stars, which can be well over three feet across and only open at night to feed!

    On a cold January day with a particularly low minus tide, you can see what it's like to explore the exposed sandy beaches of windswept Cumberland Island in Georgia. Here you never know what you might find, from Busycon carica ssp eliceans to Neverita duplicata.

   Picture this: It's dawn on a freezing cold morning during what has been called the "low tide of the millennium!" Walk with me on the sand bars and grass beds nine miles offshore where you'll see huge whelks and other shells that are normally under five to six feet of water!

    If you haven't been on a shelling trip to find Melongena corona sprucecreekensis on the oyster beds of the Halifax River, you can see what it's like to find these "big uglies" in their natural habitat. Or jump into the warm waters of the Apalachee Bay in search of Argopecten irradians, the Atlantic Bay Scallop.

    Now add "hi-def" images shot with a Nikon digital camera of the best shelling spots on the island of Eleuthera. Here you'll see the most astounding deep orange specimens of the Queen Helmet, Cassis madagascariensis! This shell (like most helmets) fades after the animal is removed. Now you can see the actual color of the living shell in its natural habitat.

    As a special bonus, you will get up close and personal with a friendly spotted eagle ray. These creatures are normally quite wary of divers and won't allow a close approach, but this one seemed to enjoy posing for my camera!

   I promise you won't be disappointed! However, I don't want to mislead you. Not all of the video on this disc is of shells. I wanted to capture the essence of these locations, so you'll also see the sapphire blue and turquoise waters of the Bahamas, a lot of other fascinating undersea creatures (including an 800 pound Goliath Grouper!) and the awe-inspiring world of the tropical coral reef!

    All the video was shot using a Sony Digital 8 camera in a custom Amphibico housing, while the stills were shot using a Nikon 8700 digital camera. The DVD is in NTSC format and is not "region coded" so it should play in most current DVD players. A few older DVD players (particularly those sold in Europe, which use the PAL format) may have difficulties reading the disc, however nobody has had a problem viewing NTSC format video on a personal computer. Also keep in mind that the latest generation of DVD players are amazingly affordable (a good name brand model will only set you back about $79!), so here's your excuse to go out to Best Buy, Circuit City or one of the other "mega stores" and get yourself a new player for the living room and retire the old one to the den or the kids room.

Pay using a credit card by going to www.paypal.com  where you can send your payment to my e-mail address:  jim_miller@mindspring.com

Send checks and money orders to:

Jim Miller
2312 Bourgogne Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Call me with questions at (850) 877-9438