I suspect that many beachcomber's excitement relates to the exquisite paper nautilus shells. For me, the excitement is more related to the fascinating creatures that make the shells. Because Argonauts spend most of their lives out at sea, their appearance in shallow water is quite rare. Like many events in our oceans, the reasons for these appearances are not fully understood. Unfortunately I have not been able to see the Argonauts for myself but friends have been sending me reports and photographs.
Argonauts are cephalopods - relatives of octopuses, squid and cuttlefish.
Female Argonauts look most like octopuses but they live inside a delicate shell. This shell is made by the female using specially modified arms. The shell is only a temporary 'house' for the female and her eggs. My friends who have dived with the female Argonauts have reported that they were releasing minute baby Argonauts into the water as they swam.