Dangerous Marine Creatures

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Dangerous Marine Creatures
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Dangerous Marine Creatures of Hawaii
OVERVIEW OF MARINE HAZARDS There are a number of
hazardous creatures in the sea. Many can cause
serious harm to unaware or inattentive divers.
Some may even cause death, although this often
depends on the amount of venom used, individual
reactions, nature of injury and location of
accidents (deep water victims often drown).
This presentation will provide some basic first
aid tips, although by far the best policy is not
to meddle with these creatures
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There are four major types of injury patterns
from marine life.
contact irritants ingested toxins injected
toxins predators
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Contact Irritants

• Sea anemone
• Sea cucumber
• Stinging corals
• Crown-of-Thorns starfish
• Hydroids
• Box jellies
• Sea urchins

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Ingested Toxins

• Shellfish- dinoflagellates (PSP)
• Scomboid- fish left a room temp., bacterial
  breakdown of tissue
• Tetradoxin- pufferfish, blue-ringed octopus
• Ciguatera- dinoflagellate

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Injected Toxins

• Cone shells
• Blue ringed octopus
• Venomous fish
• Stonefish
• Scorpion fish
• Sting rays
• Sea snake

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Predators

• Barracuda
• Moray eel
• Grouper
• Sharks
• Bull shark
• Tiger shark
• Great white
• Galapagos shark
• Mako

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COMMON HABITAT All Hawaiian waters from tide
pools to deep offshore waters.
Anemone
PREVENTIONAvoid direct contact with skin. While
tide pooling use footwear and don't put
fingers/hands into holes and crevices.
INJURY MECHANISM Tentacles have stinging cells
that are used for catching prey.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Burning and itching
sensation, redness and swelling where contact was
made. Severe Reaction may include shortness of
breath loss of consciousness.

FIRST AID TREATMENT Rinse thoroughly with fresh
or salt water. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE
medical attention may be required for severe
reactions.
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Barracuda

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Cone Shell
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Box Jellyfish
COMMON HABITAT Very common in all water bodies.
Box jellyfish regularly swarm to Hawaii's Leeward
shores 9 to 10 days after the full moon. Carybdea
alata cause the most "trouble" for humans in
Hawaii.
PREVENTION Don't go into areas where sighted, or
if dead ones are seen on the beach. Observe
posted signs.
INJURY MECHANISM Stinging tentacles.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Stinging, burning, redness,
swelling of lymph nodes. Severe reaction
difficulty with breathing and cardiac arrest.
Occasional long welt lines.
FIRST AID TREATMENT Douse with vinegar. Apply
ice for pain. IMMEDIATE medical attention may be
required for severe reactions.
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COMMON HABITAT
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COMMON HABITAT
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COMMON HABITAT
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COMMON HABITAT
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COMMON HABITAT
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Final Thoughts
Box jellyfish have been known to kill people
within three minutes, blue-ringed octopus in 30
minutes and pufferfish (eaten) in 17 minutes.
You are more likely to die from a box jellyfish
sting than a shark attack. Reef sharks are not
normally aggressive to humans but should be
treated with respect. Do not carry bleeding fish
and avoid swimming after dark.