What is this?

[Jean-michel]

Hello,

last year, when in Tobago, I got burned by an unknow animal or something.

I was in the water near Crown Point, when suddenly my arm started to burn VERY Hard. Their was absolutely no animal near me, and I went under the shower immediately. But it continue to burn for almost 2 days. Also, only 15 min after, I got a burning line on my arm. It was 1mm wide and approximately 15cm long in zig zag.

The strange thing is that 3 months after I could still see the line. Now it has completely disapear but I really don't know what could it be.

I don't think it is a jelly fish as the burn was much more hard and the skin burned for real.

If anyone has ideas, I am interested.

[Sally Hudson]

Hi Jean-Michel,
It definitely sounds like a jellyfish sting. There are sea wasps in the caribbean and their sting is supposed to be excruciating. I saw my first sea wasp while diving off Bonaire and didn't realise what it was until I was looking it up in the guidebook after the dive and realised how lucky I'd been not to get stung. They are only small but have trailing tentacles and they aren't easy to spot as they are almost transparent. I now dive (and snorkel)in a full lycra suit. I must admit that I look ridiculous - like an overweight member of the Star Trek crew, but at least I'm protected from the sun and the stingy things.
Sally

[Gisela Grell]

Hi Jean-Michel and Sally,

I travell to Tobago now for years and I love snorkeling.Most of my holdays I stay in the water. Only two times I got hit by jellyfishes and both times I didn't see anything just felt my skin burning. Fortunately it did not even leave too much of a red skin.

Like sally said they are very very smal and almost invisible.

It will not keep me away from snorkeling only in my swimsuit

Enjoy your holidays

Cheers

Gisela (29 days to go )