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Box Jellyfish Risk?
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pollitoriqu-
ito
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I was reading of the seeming infestation of Langkawi by various species of lethal box jellies and, looking at the map, realized Ko Lipe is quite near this island plagued by the stingers. With Langkawi suffering from hundreds of stings yearly the situation is quite grave.
I plan on going to Ko Lipe in early October, but my plan was to spend a lot of my time in the water swimming and snorkeling. Is it safe? Does anyone know of the risks of box jellies around the island? Would I be better off going to an island in the gulf?
I'm a fairly adventurous traveller with a decent risk tolerance but deadly jellyfish scare the hell out of me!
#1 Posted: 26/8/2012 - 10:03
goonistik
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Box Jellyfish are endemic to the region so there is always some risk, what ever time of the year. Anecdotal evidence suggests that jellyfish are more numerous in the summer months.
But you have to put things into perspective. The best estimate is that 100-200 people in Southeast Asia die from jellyfish stings. So the chances of you dying due to jellyfish sting are rather low.
See here:
http://www.trade-seafood.com/species/jelly-fish-box-irukandji.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_jellyfish
#2 Posted: 27/8/2012 - 09:30
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More people are taken by sharks in Australia each year than killed by box jellyfish in Thailand. I swim and surf everday in Australia as do millions of others who like me figure the risk of attack is very low.
I feel the same way about swimming in Thailand and I probably spend more time in there than the average person - I swim big distances in the sea for fitness.
It's a risky world - I think you probably stand more chance of being mugged if you live in a big western city and for sure, the most dangerous aspect of visiting Thailand is the risk of death on the roads. If that is not going to stop you visiting LOS then fear of stinger attack shouldn't.
#3 Posted: 28/8/2012 - 01:22
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LeonardCohe-
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I've seen lots of harmless jelly fish but the bad ones are less common.
#4 Posted: 4/9/2012 - 19:07
idreamofdur-
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It's a very, very small risk and you can't let it stop you from enjoying the ocean.
I got my first jellyfish sting in June 2012 snorkelling around Koh Lanta. Was just the regular kind and didn't hurt as much as I'd expected (based on film/TV reactions to jellyfish stings).
#5 Posted: 4/9/2012 - 20:20
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