Swimmers in Dubai’s seas told to be wary of jellyfish

“It was like swimming into an electric fence but not being able to let go of it,” said Peter Lithgoe, who swam head first into a jellyfish while swimming off the coast of Dubai.

Blue blubber jellyfish at Siam Ocean World Aquarium in Bangkok, Thailand. The creatures are common in UAE waters. Sakchai Lalit / AP Photo

DUBAI // Swimmers are urged to be vigilant in the sea after residents have wound up in hospital with jellyfish stings.

Peter Lithgoe, 41, a keen open-water swimmer, described the pain as unbearable after he swam head-first into a giant, transparent jellyfish with long tentacles this week.

The Canadian made it back to shore on Saturday morning before passing out from the shooting and stabbing pains all over his body.

“It was like swimming into an electric fence but not being able to let go,” said Mr Lithgoe, who was training off Jumeirah Beach Residence.

“I knew I had to find the strength, mentally and physically, to get back to shore where I could see people.

“When I stood up in the shallows I felt my legs go from under me. Next thing I knew I woke up in hospital.

“Thank goodness I was spotted by people who knew what to do.”

On Tuesday, a man was taken to the American Hospital where he was treated for a serious sting.

Saturday’s weekly TriDubai open-water swim was cut short by the number of jellyfish in the water at Jumeirah Public Beach.

Three types of jellyfish are commonly found in UAE waters – the blue blubber in April and May, and upside-down and nettle jellyfish in September and October.

Jellyfish are not uncommon in UAE waters, but experts are surprised by the incidents and urge swimmers to be wary.

Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, executive director of the Emirates Diving Association, said if people knew they were especially allergic to stings they should probably avoid swimming in the sea.

“The consequence of being stung by a jellyfish is not necessarily the sole responsibility of the creature but the individual as well,” said Mr Al Zu’bi.

“A sting can affect everyone differently so if you know you are more likely to have a strong reaction then stay out of the water. It’s like a bee – we all react so differently.”

The Atlantic sea nettle or East Coast sea nettle is a widely distributed species that inhabits tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, and carries a nasty sting.

This year Keith Wilson, marine programme director of Emirates Marine Environmental Group, identified the return of the moon jellyfish, a species that hasn’t been seen in local waters for six years.

“We have a seasonal influx of jellyfish in UAE waters,” said Mr Wilson. “They can be blue blubber or nettle. The ones we’re seeing now are moon jellyfish – Latin name aurelia.

“The last time they were spotted in UAE waters in huge numbers was in 2008.”

Mr Wilson suggested that climatic change could be behind their return.

Arabella Willing, resident marine biologist at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Abu Dhabi, said: “Sharks, whales, different species of jellyfish, nothing is out of the question here as it is not a closed body of water.

“As long as the conditions are right, anything is possible. Larvae and plankton move into the region from the Indian Ocean, which ultimately results in new species in the water. It’s inevitable and it’s nature.”

Ms Willing said we should not become complacent and expect the same cycles year after year.

But one company welcoming the influx of stingers is Ecocoast in Dubai, which makes marine barriers.

Operations manager Dana Liparts says the interest in jellyfish swimming nets is the highest in the seven years the company has operated in the country.

“Hotels, private residences and leisure facilities are requesting nets with urgency,” Ms Liparts says. “In past years they were not in any hurry, it was a preventive measure.

“Now hotels are calling because of incidents and need the Ecobarrier as soon as possible.”