Box Jelly Fish
Box Jelly fish
Box Jelly Fish often wash up on local beaches. If the beach is littered with them - consider staying out of the water. Stings from box jelly fish can be fatal, but that is rarely the case. You might consider covering up when you go in the ocean. If you get stung by a box jelly fish, you will know it. According to LINK, symptoms include excruciating pain, itching, rashes and welts. Untreated, includes nausea... and even death. 5 things you should know about Hawaii's Box JellyFish
If you are going in, make sure you take vinegar and a credit card (removes stinger) along! FULL FACE MASK dangersShould I be concerned about my full face mask snorkel?
Increasingly popular full-face snorkel masks are raising safety concerns. Read more:
|
16 Fascinating Facts About Sharks in Hawaii Every Local Should Know
You might find the following LINK from Honolulu Magazine helpful in regards to when sharks are most prevalent. The article is interesting, with a tip: Don't PEE in the ocean. It attracts sharks like blood does. Sharks in Waimea Bay
Occasionally there are reports of shark sitings in Waimea Bay, and signs are posted. Reporters believed the sharks often feed on the tilapia that are washed down from the river, during a storm. Apparently the dying fresh water tilapia send out a stress signals (as they are dying), drawing the sharks. Spinal Injuries and Drowning Did you know that nearly 1/3 of spinal injuries occur in and around the water LINK? Of those, 3/4 are suffered by tourists to the island. The local understand and respect the power of the ocean. I recently watched a local Polynesian, (playing with his sons in the ocean waves) near the north shore on a relatively calm day in August. However, the waves breaking on the shore were 3-6 feet. After a short time, I listened to him caution his boys "that the waves were getting strong, and that they should probably get out of the water." The locals seems to respect, understand and read the ocean. Pay attention to what they are doing. Rogue WaveRogues, called 'extreme storm waves' by scientists, are those waves which are greater than twice the size of surrounding waves, are very unpredictable, and often come unexpectedly from directions other than prevailing wind and waves. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/roguewaves.html
Consider the following account from Trip Advisor.
I was snorkeling Kapalua yesterday, in the morning it was just beautiful. I had heard on the weather report that there was a North, north west swell advisory. The map didn't include Kapalua. After about an hour, my dh and I got out of the water to catch some rays. There were tons of people on the beach. All the sudden you could see a HUGH swell coming in the bay. It was at least 15 feet if not higher. By the time it made it to shore, there were a lot of surprised people. People who had their backs to the ocean, people who put their things on wet sand, people who were just playing in the water in knee-high deep water. All were washed to shore and taken back out. No one got hurt,
DH and I managed to save others fins, towels etc. Point is: I snorkel Kapalua at least once a month if not more. I have never seen waves this big. The current came in and didn't go away after the wave. PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION. Don't put your stuff on wet sand,place it UP the beach ....and NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THE WATER.After this happened the Kapalua Activities guys put up the red flag and marked the board with dangerous conditions. DH and I didn't get back in the water. It was very murkey by then.I did not see one person other than my DH and I stay out of the water or pay any attention to the dangerous conditions sign. Common sense out the window. Watch those red flags, pay attention to the surf condition boards and maybe I won't have to fish you out of the water!! https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29220-i86-k1814570-Kapalua_Rogue_Wave-Maui_Hawaii.html |
Dangerous currents are probably the biggest cause of death and spinal injuries.