AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Jellyfish situation?

Hi all,
I've been a long-time lurker, been reading this board since February. Between the thousands of messages on this board and the belize.net forum, and the ton of info online, I find that my questions are answered before I even get to asking them. So here's my first question on this board:

I'll be in SP the last week of November (my first trip, with 7 other friends & family). We love snorkeling and love that we won't have to wear wetsuits, so when I read the posts about coral scratches it got me wondering, how bad (or not bad) are the jellyfish in Belize, and does anyone know if there's a distinct jellyfish "season" in Ambergris? I've dove & snorkeled in Australia sans wetsuit knowing there were jellyfish out there that can kill 80 men per ounce of venom or whatever, and I know Belize isn't like that, but what is it like then? The field guide on ambergriscaye.com lists several species (some with stings that can hurt), but doesn't say how likely one is to encounter the bad ones.

I haven't seen this answered, so if you don't know, maybe you can tell me who I can email about this. Or just make it up like Bill does ;-). And Sandshaker, I'll bring the meat tenderizer just in case, thanks for the tip. Though it makes you wonder, if you use that stuff on you, won't the mosquies tell all their friends you're marinating the meat for their BBQ? ;-)

<font face="Impact" color="#40E0D0" size=+0>- - A l i c e</font>

<font face="Arial Black" color="#66CDAA" size=-1>Belize visitor since 12/2/2000 ;-)</font>

I've never been to Belize (not yet, we go in November), but we go to cozumel all the time and I am real allergic to the jellyfish there, I assume they are the same. Take a look at Nidaria.com. The israelis have invented a jellyfish sunblock. I bought two bottles, we'll see how it works out.

We have manowar jelly fish down here, I am not sure they will be bad during Nov, not to many people get stung, but it can happen, I dive down here quite a bit and have never encountered one.

Here's the scoop on jellyfish from a long time diver of these waters...
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<A HREF="http://JoeMiller.com/"><IMG SRC="http://www.BelizeNews.com/files/accounts/joemiller/art/pufferanimfinal.gif" ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH="120" HEIGHT="97" BORDER="0" HSPACE="25" VSPACE="8" alt="Click to go see Joe's Underwater Photography website"></A>the jellyfish season is during the trade winds of march - june. however we do not get many jellyfish and this would be a snorkeler's or diver's least concern. your chances of getting a serious sting would be 1:5000 or more. i have dove here for 13 years and never had a serious sting! we have no 'deadly' jellyfish in the caribbean - such as the box jellyfish.

there is another irritating critter which we call 'pica pica' . the picas can show up at the same time of the year but are not serious stingers - they can leave mosquito bite sized welts on you that itch for a day or two. most tourists do not get bothered much by them as the itch is associated with a sensitivity build up over multiple stings. the pica is common from florida to honduras.

at the end of november there are practically no stinging critters in the water due to the change of seasons and drop in water temperature.

coral scratches are self inflicted. a dive skin is a good thing to wear year around. a wetsuit is only necessary during the cold fronts in the winter months



[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 09-09-2000).]

Thanks for all your advice & info. Marty, thanks for the details I was looking for and that is one cool animation!!!

PS- my guess at a translation for the "pica pica" is itchy itchy- very appropriate!

<font face="Impact" color="#48D1CC" size=+0>- - A l i c e</font>

<font face="Arial Black" color="#66CDAA" size=-1>Belize visitor since 12/2/2000 ;-)</font>

Here's a question. I encountered in the lagoon a little white thing in the water, that Garcia called a cockaratcha or cockrouch. It seemed ta be brought up from the muck and will stick and sting to yo skin. Does anyone have any knowledge about these little critters?

Shhhh... those are leeches. These tiny little guys are a seasonal thing and are found only on the backside (of the island). They don't really sting and can be easily wiped off your skin, but don't let 'em stay too long... they'll get very attached to you!

[This message has been edited by Jesse (edited 09-12-2000).]

There is a conservation group on Ambergris Caye called Green Reef. They protect the reef and the surrounding wetlands. They have a fabulous web site. Click on "reef briefs" and you will get tons of information on all the "critters" living on the reef there. You can even email them. They would be a perfect resource for what you want to know. //ambergriscaye.com/greenreef/
Hope it helps!!!
Debbie