We are going hunting....scallops.

Scallops are mollusks, like clams and oysters. They belong to a group called bivalves, meaning the shell consists of two asymmetrical halves joined by a flexible ligament called a hinge. Scallops are found in both bay waters and the sea.  The habitat of a sea scallop is a bottom composition of rough cobble, shells, or coarse sand. They do not attach to anything but instead move through the water by opening and closing the shell for propulsion. The muscle that controls the hinge of the shell is large and meaty, and also the goal of our hunting trip. 

This year, the scallop excursion begins on a cold morning in Gloucester, Massachusetts. We board the boat with the blustery wind in our faces and prepare for the 1 hour boat ride to scallop territory.  The boat captain, Steve always lets us know that we may not find any. Scallop population varies from year to year. A scallop may live as long as twenty years and during that lifetime produce as many as 270 million eggs. Some years though, populations are more scarce.
Our dive begins with a giant stride into water that is 51 degrees. The depth of the dives is about 50 feet and this year visibility was only about 10 feet. In the past we have had great visibility but colder water. I think I prefer warmer water. As you swim along the bottom, the scallops are on the sand making it easy to pick them up and put in your game bag.  A thirty minute dive will usually yield about 50 to 75 scallops depending on the site. Once the dive is over, the bag is tied off to the flag and the diver uses the flag line to ascend.  On the surface, Captain Steve brings the boat over with great skill to pick up each diver.  The boat comes straight for you then turns at the last minute to put the boat ladder within reach.  Captain Steve has had many years of practice and it shows. Once all the divers are aboard, the boat circles around to gather up all the scallop bags.  Some divers prefer to schuck the scallops while on the boat, while others wait until later.

The end result though, is something pictured here. A lightly sauteed scallop with asparagus and a glass of wine. The perfect ending to a great day of diving.