I’m on an open water swim in the Caribbean. Something starts stinging me. I mean, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the absolute worst sting you could ever imagine that absolutely puts you out of action (like I imagine an Irikandji or sea wasp sting you hear about on the Discovery Channel) and 1 being nothing at all, a bee sting being about a 4, this was about a 3.5-4 on that scale. I mean, this thing got my attention.
I felt something on my leg too… or at least I am inclined to say I felt something- I did! It felt like there was something stuck on it, like wet tissue paper or something. It was odd and rather alarming. I didn’t look down at my leg on purpose since, if I did and there was a jellyfish stuck there, there wasn’t much I could do about it *anyway. *
**
So I keep swimming and it keeps stinging- kind of coming and going, occasionally getting bad enough that it is becoming alarming, up near a solid 4 on the “sting scale” listed above.
Finally I muster up my courage and look down at my leg while swimming…
Sure enough, there is *nothing *there. Nothing. It stings like heck but there is nothing there.
Several other people reported this after the swim and displayed minor red marks on their skin. I may have had a very minor red mark but it happened over an area where I have a hefty scar already from a very old surgery so it was tough for me to tell.
I wish I knew. One time many years ago I got stung like that (didn’t see anything) and it got to the point where I couldn’t even walk. Mine was like a 9 on the pain scale. It felt like I was becoming paralyzed. I think they put rubbing alcohol on it and it went away pretty quick after that. I don’t know if it was the same thing?
What is seabather’s eruption?
Seabather’s eruption is a rash that occurs when a swimmer is stung by marine life larvae. The condition has many names, including sea lice, pika-pika, sea poisoning, sea critters, and ocean itch. What causes seabather’s eruption?
Two types of marine life that generally cause this rash are: Thimble jellyfish (Linuche unguiculata). These are found seasonally in the water off the Florida coast and across the Caribbean. The jellyfish breeds in the Caribbean throughout the summer, peaking in May. The larvae are barely visible, appearing like a speck of finely ground pepper.
here in hawaii we have portugese man of war that breeak apart in little tiny pieces and flosat around…just like jf stings only less intense…but i never see them anywhere,
.
Somebody mentioned it may be little pieces of jellyfish. I found that somewhat implausible since I couldn’t imagine a jellyfish just breaking apart in the water. Then again, I have no idea since I know very little on this topic (now) but am determined to learn more. It’s frustrating not knowing what that was. It has happeneind before. In Thailand there were places we swam where we got stung rather prominently- you really felt it- and there was nothing there.
I was snorkelling in the lagoon and saw some weird little tendrils of something clear drfitng in a water - a lot of it- but it did not sting and your couldn’t even put your hands out and grasp it. It was almost like a visual effect. Weird.
Anyway, I did the typical Google search on the topic and came up with almost nothing but the usual suspects; Portugese Man of War, Box Jellyfish, etc.
Seeing as how it is winter you were probably stung with jelly fish or man of war - with your pain rating I would be more inclined to say jelly fish. Man of war feel like someone put out a cigarette on your arm or poured boiling water on it - I mean - it really gets your attention. Hence the reason I stay out of the ocean in FL in winter!!
Anyway, sea lice are jelly fish larva - they are usually not “in season” until April and May - and they cause something to the effect of hundreds of small mosquito bites or ant bites - kind of like an itchy itchy rash. Usually you get those if you do not change out of your bathing suit right away - like if you sit in it or shower with fresh water - because that makes the sea lice break apart - and the toxins in them is what makes you have that rash.
More than what you wanted to know, I am sure.
Was the water clear? I bet you saw a lot of beautiful seafans, colorful fish and coral? I love to snorkel!!!
I think different people have different level of reactions to these stings. In the carribean I see those sea wasps (about 2" long jellyfish) all over the place. We came through droves of them once with people complaining about getting stung like mad, and I never felt anything. They are extremely difficult to see during the day.
The worst effect I had was scuba diving off Florida, where the top 10 feet of water was saturated with jelly fish – you couldn’t get in or out without going through them. Once in a while I’d get “slimed” where I’d get out of the water and it would feel like a patch of snot on my skin. I felt a slight discomfort and the skin turned a bit red, but no pain really.
In warmer waters it is usually jelly fish. The tenticles of many types are like gossimar threads, practically invisible, and get broken off and dispersed quite easily. They can cause a mild or severe rash or leave only the sting. In colder waters we have “swimmers itch”, which is larvae burrowing into the skin, looking for a “host”. This causes acne-like bumps which itch like crazy for several days.
The water in the lagoon was intermittently clear depending on tide and current. When the current was running quickly it seemed to be very clear. Bare in mind this is a relatively minor current in the grand scheme of things- you pretty much couldn’t even detect it.
We saw needlefish right at the surface, a spotted drum (quite nice, I thought it was a jackknife fish initially), stoplight parrot fish, a number of eels (spotted moray and a large green moray), many surgeonfish and other miscellaneous stripped fish. I saw a very small stripped barracuda and got a reasonable photo of him. Can’t seem to find the darn SD card though with the underwater photos on it. When I find it I’ll post them.
It was a very nice snorkelling destination.
I think you guys may be right about the jellyfish particles producing the stinging. I didn’t see a single intact jellyfish but that does seem like a plausible explanation and the sea was quite active in the days beforehand.
Oh yes - if the sea was quite active that would definitely explain it. I would chalk it up to jelly fish bits for sure.
I love the parrot fish - often times you hear them crunching the coral - it sounds like someone eating Cheetos!!
I do hope you find your underwater photos!!
I want to take a snorkeling trip!! I have been diving all over - favorite spot is Grand Cayman - they have huge angel fish that eat frozen peas out of your hand. Also you can feed the stingrays.
Did you see any sea turtles? They swim so elegant for their large clunky size and shape.
Actually, yes. I got to help feed some sea turtles and nurse sharks at the Seaquarium. It was quite nice. Curacao is a beautiful destination. Some members on the trip went diving and said that it was very fun. Maybe next year you could go on the trip and get the training and snorkeling in.
Something to think about…
i’ve heard of sea lice and got stung by them apparently. in mexico, just south of riveria maya, i was fly fishing and wading in the water. well, something kept stinging my legs and i would have described it much like you have. it was really annoying and kind of freaked me out. i asked the guide about it and he said they were sea lice. he said they bite you in the water and they are worse if you have lotion or sunscreen on for some reason. he said that i would have little red marks all over my legs from them, but other than that they weren’t a big deal. i did have little red marks and they looked gross, but they went away in a day. he said it is just something that is in the area and that you get used to it after awhile. he said it is basically like little water bugs that bite you.
I would love to go to Curacao - have been to Aruba, which I think is right next door and similar. The people there were very friendly, and the water very beautiful. I went snorkeling over a ship wreck there. And did a lot of shopping!
That is fun that you got to feed the turtles and sharks.
Definitely Sea Lice…get their stings a lot in the Florida Keys and Caribbean when swimming/snorkeling/diving. Sometimes almost feels like you’re getting electrocuted.
They make a jellyfish/sea lice repellant sunscreen. They sell it in the dive shops down here in South Florida. It works for a little while.
They’re the water equivalent of no-see-ums…really annoying.
It’s good to know that I didn’t stick my face into a pile of jelly fish tentacles!
I was swimming along on the same swim and I picked my head up to sight and when I put my face back in the water it was quite suprising. I experienced little stings all around the outside of my mouth and nose. I was a bit shocked. No pun intended!
Is there any long term effects from those types of stings? I haven’t experienced any so far, but I’m curious of any cases where that has been a result.
“I experienced little stings all around the outside of my mouth and nose. I was a bit shocked. No pun intended!
Is there any long term effects from those types of stings?”
Probably not, but just to be on the safe side, you better pee on the affected area ;-). I was told that is the cure for any ocean animal injury when I planted my back side and left hand on a black spiney sea urchin in St. John last summer. Resulted in several spines going in one side of a finger and out the other. Ouch! And, yes, I did pee on it.
