An encounter with a jellyfish while peacefully diving or snorkeling can turn your relaxing holiday into a painful nightmare. Protective clothing such as wetsuits can help you protect yourself from jellyfish stings.
In this article, we’ll take a look at:
- why jellyfish stings are dangerous
- which waters to look out for jellyfish in
- why wetsuits can be a good protection
- and which wetsuits you should choose to protect yourself
The Danger of Jellyfish Stings
Jellyfish are invertebrates that live in the sea. They are related to corals and other marine animals. We know of more than 1200 different species, some of which are particularly known for their long tentacles and toxicity, such as the Blue Bottle and the Portuguese Man of War jellyfish.
When stung, the jellyfish injects venom from its tentacles directly into the skin. The effects range from skin irritation, muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and fever to acute pain, breathing difficulties, heart attack and even death.
In which sea can you encounter toxic jellyfishes?
Jellyfish are found in all oceans, but are more common in tropical seas. In the Indian Ocean, jellyfish can be found along the coast of Sri Lanka and India. In the Pacific Ocean, they are found off the coast of Japan and Australia. In the Atlantic Ocean, they are found off Bermuda and Brazil.
Most poisonous jellyfish are known to be found near beaches, especially in Australia and South Africa. Warning signs are often seen there, warning swimmers not to go into shallow water where jellyfish are common.
The Pro’s of Using a Sting Proof wetsuit
A wetsuit is a garment worn by people for protection from the water. It is designed to cover the body from head to toe and usually covers the arms, legs, hands, and feet to provide insulation and protection from stings.
Wearing a wetsuit in tropical waters has many advantages. Firstly, it prevents sunburn on the skin because it covers the body and protects against stings that can occur in the water, such as jellyfish or coral stings. Secondly, it keeps you warm in cold water, which means you shiver less, which can lead to muscle cramps or even hypothermia if you stay unchecked for too long. Finally, wearing a wetsuit can help with buoyancy, which means you won’t be as stressed when diving into deeper waters or swimming through waves.
The Con’s of Using a Sting Proof wetsuit
The cons of using a sting proof wetsuit are that it is expensive and requires a lot of maintenance. It is not very environmentally friendly, as it does not decompose easily and can take up to 10 years to degrade.
Also, the wetsuit is not very flexible, so it can be difficult to move around in it. When choosing a suit, you have to consider many criteria. If you are buying a suit for the first time, you should get help to try it on so that the most important criteria are met.
Can jellyfish sting through wetsuits?
Some people believe that jellyfish can sting through a wetsuit. However, this is not true. Jellyfish have to touch the skin to sting someone. And wetsuits are made of a material that is thicker than the skin, so it cannot be penetrated by the jellyfish’s tentacles.
Jellyfish can only sting you if they come into contact with your skin, which is unlikely due to the thickness of a wetsuit.
How to Choose the Best Wetsuit for Protection Against Jellyfish Stings
The good news is that there are ways to protect yourself from them. The most essential thing, of course, is not to go into the water if you don’t know what’s in it. But if you do know, you should wear a puncture-resistant wetsuit.
What is a sting proof wetsuit?
A string proof wetsuit protects its wearer from the painful stings while in the water. As it can be highly dangerous to swim or dive with bare skin, this suit is made from a mesh of three fibers: Nylon, Elastane and a special fiber that has slippery qualities, being able to avoid that jelly fish tentacles stick to the fabric.
The suit usually covers the entire body, including the hands, so that almost no bare skin is visible. High visibility through eye-catching colors is also important. Clear colors can ensure that you cause fewer accidents in the water, as the wearer is visible from far away.
How to choose a suitable wetsuit
Choosing the right wetsuit for you can be a tricky process. There are so many options, and it can be hard to know what works best for you. The first thing to think about is how cold the water is that you’re going to be in. If it’s warm water, then you won’t need a thick wetsuit, but if it’s colder water, then you will want something thicker. You also want to consider whether there are jellyfish in the area that may sting you, as well as whether there will be any waves while you are swimming.
I was protected but got anyway stung by a jellyfish, what should I do?
The most important thing to do if you get stung by a jellyfish is to immediately search for medical help. If the person has no breathing difficulties, the best thing is to remove any tentacles from their skin and rinse them with salt water.
If the person is having breathing difficulties, it’s critical to lay them on their side in order to keep their airway open. Always call a doctor immediately because the person may have more severe reactions that can be life-threatening.
Conclusion: if you are swimming in the affected area, always put on a wetsuit
The jellyfish injects venom from its tentacles directly into the skin. These highly toxic jellyfish are found in all oceans, but especially in Australia and South Africa. The best way to protect against their poisonous stings is to wear suits made of sting-resistant materials that can cover almost the entire body.
Even though suits can be a bit stiff and in that sense might reduce the swimming experience, they are indispensable for safety in the water as you cannot pierce through them.
If you do come into physical contact with a sting, it is important to seek medical help immediately.
