Hi Blu,
What you are feeling are what we call sea-strings! They are the little legs that have come off the jelly fish. You explained the feeling well and there isn't much you can do except maybe use some spray to try and take the sting away- can't remember what the stuff is called and am sure someone will let us know!!!! Bactine?

Magen's Bay gets alot of Jelly Fish in the summer, in August mostly, when the water is calm and WARM!!!! They love the calm water! You can actually touch a Jelly Fish from the top only without getting stung, tho I suppose you probably shouldn't! The Jelly Fish are small there. Again, the sea strings are felt in the summer and Magen's authorities will put out a sign to let people know when Jelly Fish are out full fledged!!!!!
You handle your experiences well, and this is what I hope for with all people who come down! Take it in stride.
We have to!
Sent you a pic to put in the Bugs thread, if you would! 🙂

One year when my son was about 9, he went fishing in Canada with his father and came home with bites all over his legs that he got in the water. The doctor said that there were these little tiny "bugs" that live in some coves (you never knew if they were there or not) that would get under the skin. He had these bites for a month! I was afraid of scarring but they didn't. I think they were almost on the microscopic level. Doubt that something that lives in Canada would be the same as in the tropics, but the point is - there are SO MANY organisms out there that one has no way to determine what they are and how to avoid them.

OK, you guys are freaking everyone out with this talk of flying bugs, scorpions, bugs in water, lizards jumping on your back....please stop!

I grew up in Maryland and we used to use Meat Tenderizer on jelly stings and it works pretty good.

Not to add to any further O/T messages (:-), but if you get stung by a jellyfish you are supposed to pee on it. I would guess the same would go for sea-strings (legs of jellyfish)? Just as long as you are out of the ocean when you pee 😉

Haven't heard the pee thing for Jelly Fish, but have for sea urchins....those spiny balls. The urine is suppose to dissolve the spine as they are mostly calcium. Will have to try it! lol Thanx!
Mountain Girl, don't want to freak anyone out- just educate! 🙂
Gotto love those lizards! I DO!

If we scare some away, it leaves more of the islands for the rest of us. 🙂

The same thing happens to me now and then, and I figured it was jelly fish, but like you Blu, was frustrated b/c I couldn't actually see what was stinging me.
As for the whole peeing on a jellyfish sting thing...I watched an experiment on a show on the Discovery Channel, or maybe it was TLC...I think it's called Dr. Know (or am I thinking of a James Bond movie?) Anyway, the doctor (funny little stocky guy with a British accent) stung his subjects w/jellyfish and tried several different remedies, including vinegar and urine. The results: no one remedy really helped...you basically just have to wait out the pain, which, when stung by the little jellyfish strings, isn't that bad at all.

You know I saw that too! I think it was Mythbusters on Discovery. I remember it now. I say still pee on it! Cuz that's just funny and you'll feel better one way or another! Or have a drink - - drink more, care less! Speaking of which. Work is done. Time for a drink.

I came across this when looking for a sunblock - worth checking out :). It comes with and without SPF

http://www.buysafesea.com/order_safe_sea.php

Pia

I've experienced this too - feels like you're getting tiny electrical shocks all over. I always thought it was a school of baby jellyfish or something like that. I've also heard it is one of the the same creatures that exhibits bioluminescence (likely in the coelenterate/jellyfish family). Any biologists out there have any more info on this???

Hi everyone. I'm glad to know that I am not along in feeling this. Nobody else in my family or circle of friends, except my daughter and I, seems to feel this.

To me, if feels like mosquitoes are biting me, under the water...and there's an itch after.

Based on what everyone is saying, I guess I experience this more because I tend to visit more in the summer and I love Magens Bay. Yes, my last visit was in late August and I experienced it more than I can recall from other visits.

I know that the Jellyfish come in late summer. I remember being on Sapphire beach early one morning (maybe in 2004?) and a little boy had been swimming and one of those huge jellyfish with the long tentacles got him - Man O War? An ambulance had to be called to come and get him from the beach. Nobody was allowed into the water for the rest of the morning.

The jellyfish are a definite downside to summer visiting.

If the rash and itching is under your wet bathing suit it might be what is commonly called "sea rash". It is usually thought to be caused by sea lice. Others suggest that it is a plankton that gets under your suit and isn't rinsed off.

Good advice is to shower after spending time in tropical waters. This will often remove the residue that causes these problems.

Hi there red red rash!
Not heard these ones before, but it works for me! I have always referred to this experiance as sea strings.
I have experianced it many times. Problem is it starts itching, etc. someimes while in the water or when you exit the water! I guess if you are still experiancing it when you get back to whereever it is you are staying, a shower would be the answer!!!

If you would tho, rinse off before jumping in your pool! There is a red algea that comes from the ocean and it is heck to get rid of in the pools! Snorkel gear can be hosed off as well. The pool isn't for rinsing after being in the ocean!!!!! Believe me, this courtesy would be greatly appreciated!!!! 🙂

Blu, I experienced the same thing, but it was in January 05. The only places I was bothered by it were snorkeling off Buck Island (the one off STT near Frenchmans's Reef) pretty severly and moderately at Coki Beach. Did't experience it at all at Morningstar beach, the Baths, Guana Island, and Jost. One of the crew members on the Buck Island day sail said it was someting to do with the coral, particularly the fire coral. Spoors maybe, can't remember exactly, but I know as soon as I was out of the water and rinsed off it was relieved immediately. I'd like to hear if anyone who has sever allergies ever had a problem with this condition. We're planning atrip w/ our kids and my 11yr son has asthma and severe allergies (food and other stuff) and am curious as to whether I should be concerned. Thnx in advance!

Tam

I am so glad that I am not the only one who experienced this. I kept thinking it was jellyfish as we did see some small ones and my DH did get a minor sting from one at Coki. Everytime I felt it, I never did see anything around me to cause it. I am not fond of jellyfish as several years ago, I got stung very badly on my legs that left huge welts for months.

http://www.fau.edu/safe/sea-lice.html

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

Sea lice?!?!?! EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWW..................!

That article says the itching from sea lice occurs under your swimsuit. It seems that many of the people who have posted on this thread are experiencing the itching on their arms & legs.