Now these critters are a pain. Especially when you stand on them, as I have done on too many occasions to mention. You will find these spiky black balls of misery liberally scattered among and on the rocks just under the sea, and if you are actively hunting them out then you will be able to fill your nets along the rocky beaches of Sliema and St Julian's. Apparently some people eat the insides of these chaps, although I've not tried them myself. Besides, the inside of them being tasty does not adequately compensate for the outside of them being painful.
I have had contact with the outside of various sea urchins, generally when clambering from sea to rocky shore, or on one particularly painful occasion, when swimming along and managing to kick one of the little fellows, thus wedging a 2cm spike in my toe. That was sore.
