Sea swimming and jellyfish

[ohfook]

I'm not sure if I've somehow managed to overestimate the danger jellyfish pose, but if you swim in the sea how do you manage to avoid getting stung by a jellyfish?

I've been wanting to do more open water swimming for a while and finally plucked up the courage to start yesterday evening but when I got to the beach there was loads of jellyfish. However plenty of people were still swimming in the sea seemingly unbothered by them?

So is there a trick or time of day to avoid getting stung or is it just not the big deal I thought it was - like just a risk most people take if they want to swim in the sea? And if you did get stung could you get out of the sea safely or is it so painful that you couldn't concentrate on swimming? And would you need to go to the hospital or just deal with it yourself?

I'm north east England if it makes any difference in terms of type or amount of jellyfish!

I also used to have a huge fear of quicksand too until I realised that quicksand related deaths in urban areas of Newcastle were fairly rare. I think I was raised by exceptionally cautious parents and maybe I'm not the best at understanding levels of risk!

Inhabit the waters of northern Australia. So I think the uk coast is safe 😂

That's where I am though!

And with warming waters everywhere I'm sure won't be long before they extend that region.

Get yourself a long sleeved rash vest and rash leggings or a wetsuit if you're worried. There's no point in going in if you're worries make you miserable. Lately there have been a few jellies and weaver fish where I swim, so I've been wearing my long sleeved vest and beach shoes. It doesn't impact on my swimming and makes me more comfortable.

*your 🙄

I've had 2 jellyfish stings, on the same beach, about 20 years apart. Neither required hospitalisation. Didn't even notice the first time until hours later.

Of course jellyfish can be dangerous. Not all are though.

I'm in the north east and new fear unlocked! Ds2 asked me the other week if we get sharks in "our seas". I googled and fuck yes we do!! So I'll just paddle in cullercoats bay from now on

@Mammyloveswine dont worry - on the east coast you’re only likely to see porbeagle sharks - I mean yeh they LOOK like great whites, but… it’ll improve your speed! 😂

😱😱😱😱😱😱

There are loads on the NI coast this year! I’m used to the jelly season but this year there seem to be more than ever..

Walked past this big old beauty and found so many more huge ones washed up!

Eek! I won't swim if I see more than a couple of jellyfish. But I think I have a slightly irrational fear of them.

Its weird though because some beaches seem to have loads and others none even in the same area. We were at Kynance Cove in Cornwall, and didn't see one jellyfish, but paddled around some rocks to an adjacent beach, and that one had loads 😱

Here's a good resource on identifying jellyfish from the Marine Conservation Society, with handy infographics for each species.

Thanks for sharing that resource, really informative. Plus I now know that jellyfish have gonads 🫣😂😂😂 (yeah okay I’m 12!)

I'll swim with compass moon & crystal jellies, have been stung by compass but its not too bad. Have bumped into barrel jellyfish no sting but they're bloody huge so make me panic, not good.
When I see Portuguese man on the beach, not uncommon in Cornwall, that's my swim plans abandoned for the day at least!

I flipping hate them! This the worst time of the year for them. Bring on the colder water! I wear a rash vest, swim leggings and boots and gloves to minimise my bare skin potentially getting stung. The wee purple moonies don't hurt but I hate touching them. Lion's manes are usually pretty sizeable so easier to avoid but I'm really not keen on being stung by them. Compass will sting and it can be unpleasant.

I usually take a wee walk on the edge of the sea and see what's washing up. Too many jellies and I'll probably just leave it.

You can buy stinger suits online or swim in a long wetsuit.
I usually take a bottle of vinegar with me but won't go in if there are loads about/on the shoreline if anything but moon jellyfish.

Wow such a wide range of responses. Thank you for all of those. The links were really helpful - I had no idea that some jellyfish don't even sting.

I live by the coast an it's yellyfish season around this time of year.

avoid going in at low tide and just after water comes back.

most of them don't sting and if they do it's a bit like a midge bite. don't rub at at or try to wash it off. pouring over vinegar is best. ketchup works as well.

Some quicksand facts

thescienceexplorer.com/nature/will-quicksand-really-kill-you

yellyfish - I think you would year those coming!

Hear not year.