AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye jellyfish stings?

10 years ago, I had a very similar situation happen to me, up in Cancun. The Pica Pica stings only had showed up on my skin, where my swimming suit had been. Unfortunately for me, I had chose to wear a one-piece swimsuit, the day I got hit by the Pica Pica. I ran into jellyfish since them, along with this past trip to AC, but I have been following a Mexican woman's advice, ever since the Pica Pica incident. Which is to liberally apply sunscreen ALL over your body, BEFORE you put your swimsuit on. Theory is the little critters get stuck inside your suit as you are happily swimming along, and for some reason, the sunscreen coats your skin and helps as a barrier. The theory seems to work. The few jellyfish stings I received are nothing compared to that awful Pica Pica body rash, which lasted a good three weeks. Good luck!! Janice

are those welts gone yet?
are you feeling better?
Thinking about you and hope the itch is history

I am the official Pica Pica tester here. If there are Pica Pica they will find me. I don't think it is the Thimble Jelly but is the micro scopic larva that causes the problem. Although you may get a few 'stings' when you are in the water the main damage is done while sitting in anything where the larva can be trapped. As they die for lack of water they start stinging. The most important thing for those of us who are especially sensative is to get out of the suit and rinse off with fresh water as soon as possible. Since I carry a bucket of fresh water for my video camera I have been known to have someone douse me with this water while I hold my suit away from my body.
Pica Pica does not keep me out of the sea and I actually seem to be building up an immunity or getting better at getting rid of them.
I too am shocked to here they are here in March. I'm going diving Monday and will look for them. BTW - I don't think there is spell check here??? so please don't bother. :rolleyes:

ScubaLdy are you sure that's the mechanism? Because I have fresh water showers on my boats and I've never thought to use them for this - but I will in future.

We are going at the end of April. Will it still be a problem then? Also, after reading this forum I bought some sea safe to bring with us.

Heatherack...MIA

http://dermnetnz.org/arthropods/sea-bathers.html

Pay particular note to the caution regarding a freshwater rinse. It is not advised as it may well set off the firing of the 'nemos'.

If pica-pica conditions exist, then it may be advisable to coat yourself with Sea Safe where you will be covered, and not only those areas that will be exposed.

Thanks Seashell. My take on this is to thouroughly immerse myself in alcohol while wearing my bathing costume. Sounds do-able

hi n y girl, yes, my stings are finally history. The itching lasted about 11 days, and the welts scabbed and slowly disappeared. I'd definitly risk pica-pica again...the water is so great on Ambergris! taking off the bathing suit in salt water and thoroughly rinsing sounds like the ticket. have fun all of you who are there or on your way...as captain jeff says, "live the dream" !!!