Scuba Divers And The Box Jellyfish Or Sea Wasp
One Of The Most Deadly Animals On Earth Is A Scuba Diving Risk
Jan 9, 2009
The Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) is found in the tropical waters in the north of Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is mainly found along the coastline, and common after rain near creek and river outlets. The Box Jellyfish season is the wet season from October to April. It prefers calmer waters; moving towards the coast on the incoming tide.
The Box Jellyfish is also know as the Sea Wasp.
What Is A Box Jellyfish
The Box Jellyfish gets its name from its box-like shape. It is a pale blue or transparent gelatinous cube up to 20 centimetres on each side. There can be up to 15 tentacles hanging off each corner of the cube; with each group up to 3 metres long and containing about 5,00 nematocysts or stinging cells.
Instead of simply drifting with the current they can travel up to 4 knots by using a propulsion system to chase prey of small crustaceans and fish.
Box Jellyfish Venom
The Box Jellyfish’s venom is extremely lethal; impacting the heart, the nervous system and the skin. The pain of the sting is reported to be is so bad that a scuba diver could go into shock and drown before the impact of the venom sets in.
The venom has evolved to be so lethal so that when the jellyfish hits its prey, it stuns or kills the victim instantly so that the dying prey doesn’t damage the box jellyfish’s delicate tentacles.
Treatment of Box Jellyfish stings
For scuba diver’s attempting a rescue of a diver hit by a Box Jellyfish, they must stick to the golden rule of rescue diving: “the rescuer must not get into trouble themselves”.
The rescuer must be extremely vigilant to not get caught in the Box Jellyfish’s tentacles, as there can be up to 60 meters of deadly tentacles floating around the victim.
For a diver stung by a Box Jellyfish, the following first aid should be carried out:
- Immediately arrange for medical assistance. Time is extremely important.
- Keep the patient as still as possible to reduce the spread of the venom through the body
- Flood the area of the sting with vinegar. This will prevent any nematocysts from firing off and injecting more venom.
- If the sting is on a limb, wrap the area in a pressure bandage to attempt to slow the spread of the venom. This must not be too tight.
- Use artificial respiration and cardiac massage, as required.
Risks For Scuba Divers
Fortunately for scuba divers, it is rare to find the Box Jellyfish on the reefs and coal cays of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, such as Heron Island.
However, it is found in many areas where scuba diving is carried out. These are around the mainland islands closer to the coast such as the Whitsunday Islands or on the coastline itself. In these situations, scuba divers need to be vigilant during the Box Jellyfish season.
A simple action like a quick swim after a dive without a wetsuit can result in a fatal sting.
Prevention
Because the venom works so quickly, prevention is of the utmost importance.
Full coverage is the best protection. A simple lycra suit will suffice, and also protects against Fire Coral. Surf lifesavers have been known to wear pantyhose as protection.
There is always a risk that the uncovered parts of the body will be hit by the Box Jellyfish’s tentacles.
People living in the Box Jellyfish areas are well aware of the dangers and don’t swim in the sea along the coast during the Box Jellyfish season without full body cover.
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