Hazardous Sea Creatures

Box Jellyfish

The box jellyfish is certainly one creature to look out for while visiting any of the beaches on Okinawa. Known as habu kurage in Japanese, box jellyfish are often spotted in the waters near the beaches during the summer months. These creatures have the shape of a box, and on the four corners of the body hang clumps of poisonous, stinging tentacles which can be as long as two meters. Unfortunately, these hazardous sea creatures tend to be translucent and are difficult to spot, but you should always be on the lookout anyway. Their tentacles have cardiotoxic components that can cause very uncomfortable pain if you are stung.

If you or someone else is stung, be sure to get out of the water immediately to avoid further injury. Also, do not rub the affected area with your hand, towel, sand or anything else as this can spread the injury and enhance the burning sensation. Douse the sting wound generously with vinegar, pick off the tentacles, then ice the wound, and if there is any difficulty in breathing, provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and get the victim to a hospital immediately.

If you frequent many of the beaches of Okinawa, it is always a good idea to keep a bottle of vinegar with you as a precaution. Also, you will find that some beaches have what is called a vinegar box, but this is not always the case. However, many of Okinawa's public beaches such as Sunset Beach and Tropical Beach have netting around the swimming area to keep hazardous creatures out of the recreational waters.

Crown of Thorns Starfish

The crown of thorns starfish is an interesting-looking species of starfish, but it is something you should definitely look out for if you happen to be visiting the beach for a day of snorkeling. Do not touch them; if you happen to step on or brush against one of them, you will feel extreme pain from the punctures of their thorns. If this happens, carefully pull out the spines and seek medical attention immediately.

Sea Urchins

One should be cautious when walking in the shallow tide pools or preparing to enter the water for a swim. Sea urchins are not necessarily dangerous to touch, but if you step on one with the full weight of your body, you'll experience quite a painful sensation when several of its thorns get lodged in your foot. Sea urchins can be found everywhere near a coral reef. They are often lodged in small rock crevices and are not always easily spotted. Just look for a dark cylindrical object on the ocean floor beneath you.The best protection against a sea urchin injury is simply to wear aquatic boots when you are walking in the water. If you do happen to step on a sea urchin, don't panic. Simply pull out the large spines and let the small spines dissolve. Your foot will be in pain for a few days or weeks, but this is only temporary. If you get a spine lodged deep in your foot, seek medical attention to have it removed.