May 2010
Finally, at the very end of the month we were released from lycra suits. Though comfortable and safe, they are not very flattering! The suits are provided as an extra safety measure, and done so by all operators on the Great Barrier Reef, it is the season that box jelly fish and Irukandji jellyfish can be present in the water.
We call the monsoon season, stinger season because jelly fish are commonly called stingers (or sea wasps) and are present in this time of year due to the temperature of the water. The box jelly fish have a square 'bell' and is actually quite developed compared to other jelly fish. They have an intricate system on the bottom edge of their 'square top' that allows them to swim faster then any other jelly fish and coordinate their movements, they also have eyes complete with retinas, corneas and lenses. No other jelly fish can see anything else but light and dark.
The Irukandji jellyfish is the new kid on the block. This jellyfish was named after the Irukandji people, who are the original custodians of an area that stretches from just north of Cairns to just south of Port Douglas. They are tiny, but with very long tentacles! They are usually found along the coast, however they have been known to venture out a bit of their comfort zone.
The beach in Port Douglas has for that reason a stinger net in the water in monsoon season, within this net it is safe to swim and the beach is also patrolled by Surf Life Saving. All reef operators out of Port Douglas offer lycra suits as a precautionary measure.
