Comments on: Packing Breakable Seashells Safely For Traveling

By: iRELA r. sTOUT

iRELA r. sTOUT — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 22:13:00 +0000

What kind of container would you recommend while collecting while beachcombing & collecting seashells? By the time I get them back to my room the more fragile ones are broken. :(

Thank you.

By: Joyce Aldred

Joyce Aldred — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 19:03:59 +0000

Hello everyone! When my friend and I go to Sanibel each year, we ship the sturdy shells home in a USPS box – the one-price-regardless-of-weight boxes. We don’t wrap the shells, just layer in the box, shake to settle, layer more, shake/settle. You can get lots in the box. Horse conchs great to ship this way (I don’t need any more of these but can’t resist!) Then, at top, pack in wads of paper -tightly – so no rattling can be heard when box is shaken. I’ve only had 2 broken horse conchs in 3 years.

By: Ann

Ann — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 04:33:27 +0000

Just got back from Turks & Caicos and we also travel to the Bahamas each year. Like you, I have become an expert shell packer to get my treasures home safely. I always bring at least one bag of cotton balls (although you can usually purchase them) as well as Pringles and other snacks in hardy packaging (for ex., peanut butter filled pretzels in a large screwtop container). Urchins are packed with one to three cotton balls inserted into the skeleton and then wrapped in toilet paper. I’ve brought back sea fans simply wrapped in t.p. and placed between magazines in my luggage. Shoe boxes are good for packing foodstuffs on the way and shells on the way home. Also bring rubber bands to strap around your containers to add to their staying closed and not popping open. Great ideas, everyone!