Was wake boarding in a back bay, exhausted, I drop the rope and I sink right in the middle of a damn jelly fish orgy. I can def say I hate them, too!
Surprised they didn't mention that the nematocysts don't fire their payload when they come in contact with something inorganic like lycra. Australian lifeguards used to wear women's pantyhose as protection until lycra became widely available. Long-sleeve rashguards and lycra bodysuits will save you much pain. Just keep your face out of the water.
Sweet vid! I never knew they actually stab you. I have had been stung by jellyfish many a time in my day. The worst was an enormous pink one down in S.C. I jumped out of that water faster than I've ever been. I honestly thought a shark bit me. Back side of my thigh was purple for over two weeks.
Was that a pink "sail" that floated on top of the water? If so, you encountered a Portugese Man-O'War. They are not to be trifled with and are about the most poisonous jellyfish we have in U.S. waters. Tentacles from those "colonies" can extend over 100 feet from the sail. Best thing is to stay out of the water if you see any of those floating around.
I think I accidentally ate a bit of moon jelly the other night. Hives in my mouth and throat. They're cool to look at in the dark, glow when you bump into them, but don't inadvertently eat the ****ers. Gonna keep Benadryl in my car from now on.
While jigging tuna at the hudson canyon my line drifted through a portugese man-o-war and the little bit that remained on my line made my spool thumb swell up like a baseball and it felt like fire.
Was in a barrel that was closing out last summer and I punched through the back of the wave only to take a face full of lion's mane...I'm familiar w/ the feeling b/c I used to take tenticles to the face quite frequently, and if it gets in your eye/mucous mumbranes you get an immediate sneezing/watery eyes/stinging in the epicenter of your sinus reaction. All part of the #saltlife.
The sail part, especially the top edge is pink/magenta and is the most noticeable color when seen on the surface. The underside is blue/purple. Sun angle can also cause the color to appear different. The bottom line is if you see anything pouch-like floating on the surface, stay the hell away from it.
Just so you guys know coral polyps (the living being inside the hard part of the coral), along with sea anemones also work this way. I didnt watch the whole vid, but i've seen anemones tentacles "sting" under a microscope. They actually shoot out like little spike missiles.
