Sea Ants

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 7:52 pm

Hi All,
The last few times I went snorkeling in Tobago I got nipped by what the locals called sea ants. It's like a very sharp sting and lasts for a few seconds the goes. You can see nothing in the water and it only happend while snorkeling not diving so it looks like it is just a surface thing.

Any one got any ideas.
Regards
Kevin

Achim Lewandowski · Post by **Achim Lewandowski** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:49 pm

Hi,

I believe you might have encountered "sea lice": young jellyfish

Small, 99% is water, but obviously they know how to attract attention.

Regards,

Achim

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 7:26 pm

Hi Achim,
Thanks for that. I think you can get anti jellyfish suntan lotion so that may help stop the little beasties.

If anyone else has any ideas I'd like to hear them

Regards
Kevin

Andreas A. · Post by **Andreas A.** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:20 pm

Pour some vinegar at the parts where you get stinged, it helps if its still hurting when you get out of the water.

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:49 pm

Hi Andreas,
Thanks for the tip. Long term effects were not much of an issue apart from a very numb lip on one occasion (fixed that with rum and coke and got the rest of my body numb too) but in the water they really did nip and if you swam through a bad patch it was like being continually jabbed with hot pins.

Regards
Kevin

Jill M · Post by **Jill M** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 4:45 pm

I'm glad I didn't read this before I went to Tobago - I would have never gone in the water !!!

However, I didn't see or feel any of these - so whoever is reading this - don't let it put you off !