Latest Word On The Jellies???

[DiverMo]

Coming down in just a couple of days now and was wondering if they are still hanging around? Or have they all drifted to other parts? Just trying to decide on picking up some hoods or not. Buying and packing more stuff is the last thing I need, but if it keeps the little stingies away, well, you know.

 

[Christi]

Coming down in just a couple of days now and was wondering if they are still hanging around? Or have they all drifted to other parts? Just trying to decide on picking up some hoods or not. Buying and packing more stuff is the last thing I need, but if it keeps the little stingies away, well, you know.

Still around

 

[redacted]

I believe they are Warty Jellyfish http://www.sanpedrosun.net/old/07-153.html and they will get your attention. It took me a while to realize that the ones with short (<1 inch) purple tentacles and the ones with long tentacles (>1 meter) were the same just with tentacles withdrawn. Most dives had few to none. But on some dives they were numerous and concentrated in the rest stop zone. I was amusing myself at one reststop tapping them on the dome to make them withdraw their tentacles when I saw some long slender tentacles inches in front of me. The initial sting is startling, but it quickly subsides to tolerable and the red welts disappear in a few hours. Those that drift too close to the top of the reef get caught in the gorgonians which appear to be eating them. So if you are feeling lucky, you could always try feeding the gorgonians.

 

[mstevens]

The pictures in the link look like what I saw last week. I have a somewhat blurry picture of one I can upload if anyone's interested.

 

[Christi]

I believe they are Warty Jellyfish http://www.sanpedrosun.net/old/07-153.html and they will get your attention. It took me a while to realize that the ones with short (<1 inch) purple tentacles and the ones with long tentacles (>1 meter) were the same just with tentacles withdrawn. Most dives had few to none. But on some dives they were numerous and concentrated in the rest stop zone. I was amusing myself at one reststop tapping them on the dome to make them withdraw their tentacles when I saw some long slender tentacles inches in front of me. The initial sting is startling, but it quickly subsides to tolerable and the red welts disappear in a few hours. Those that drift too close to the top of the reef get caught in the gorgonians which appear to be eating them. So if you are feeling lucky, you could always try feeding the gorgonians.

Those definitely look like what we've been seeing...very similar to the nettle jellies.

Thanks AWAP

 

[jfcl01]

how likely are they to still be there in 2 weeks?

 

[mstevens]

how likely are they to still be there in 2 weeks?

I doubt anybody knows. It doesn't seem that they're at all likely to be there now, but they are.

There were dozens of these around us on our stops. Nobody got stung. As long as you don't try to kiss one, it should be fine. Try not to worry about it.

 

[Garrobo]

What I noticed was the kid with the "stubbed" big toe. Brought back some memories of when I was a tad and we all went barefoot all summer, generally with a destroyed big toe like that on both feet. Funny how things will pop up and bring up old stuff.

 

[Scram Bulleggs]

Forget the hood and pack extra peanut butter

 

[jfcl01]

I doubt anybody knows. It doesn't seem that they're at all likely to be there now, but they are.

There were dozens of these around us on our stops. Nobody got stung. As long as you don't try to kiss one, it should be fine. Try not to worry about it.

Don't try to kiss one?
Easier said than done.