Warm Water, Rough Surf Brings Unwelcome Visitors to Beach

 Beachgoers trying to beat the heat this weekend may find themselves battling another obstacle beside the sun and surf:  jellyfish.

On Friday at Robert Moses field 3, people were fleeing the water, one by one, complaining about a stinging sensation they felt on their skin. The culprit is the early arrival of jellyfish.   And as one local swimmer put it, "it's like jumping into a bed of needles."

According to Frank Rapczyk, a marine biologist and science teacher at West Islip High School, there are two distinct types of jellyfish that inhabit our waters: the Lion Mane Jellyfish and Moon Jellies.

Rapczyk said that Moon Jellies do not have tentacles and the skin irritation that people are feeling as they come out of the water is likely caused by the Lion Mane species.

"This specific type of jellyfish, normally around at the end of July and early August, are in the water today because it is unusually warm for this time of the summer," Rapczyk said.  "After nearly two straight weeks of constant sunshine and heat, the ocean temperature is in the low 70's, which is usually not the case off our coast until the middle of August."

Rapczyk also said that the jellyfish are here this week because they were churned up by rough surf after a week of flat conditions.

 Surfer and West Islip resident Andrew Cunningham was trying to catch a few waves  but said the stinging on his skin was too much to bear.

"It feels like a thousand mosquito bites on my skin at the same time," he said.  "I thought I would be able to stay in a while but it was awful."

Cunningham did not wear his wet suit today because the water is very warm.  But he did wear his rash guard and said that it was a mistake because the jellyfish are getting stuck inside of it, irritating his skin.

"The jellyfish get mashed up in the rough surf and spread out all over the water, they end up on my skin and stay there, it hurts," he said.

After getting out of the water, Dana S. of West Islip ran to pour fresh water onto her skin because it felt "like someone was putting lit matches to my body."

A jump in the ocean may feel refreshing until you get out, but according to Rapczyk the best way to eliminate the sting of jellyfish is to use your own urine.

"It may be disgusting, but the acid in your urine neutralizes the jellyfish venom and gets rid of the sting," he said.

When Dana was informed of this way to rid herself of the sting, she said "thanks but I will stick to fresh water."