396 KB Dangerous Coelenterares O ne of the cardinal rules of safe diving is that you should familiarize yourself with the local undersea fauna. Be aware of the hazards sometimes concealed behind the charm of the coral reef and its denizens. Stung Probably more people are stung by jellyfish than any other sea creature.
Victims tend to be swimmers, however, rather than divers.
It is worth learning to distinguish dangerous specise from the relatively garmless ones and getting any local knowledge concerning them which may be available. You might also remember that you can be stung by tornoff tentacles floating free and unnoticed, especially after storms during periods when jellyfish are particularlly numerous. A different coelenterate hazard, this one addecting divers rather than swimmers, fire corals are unimpressive encrustations on the reef that resemble hard coral. Look for rusty crusts or fingers with cream-colored trim. Other hydroid can also pack an unpleasant sting, despite the fact these colonial animals appear entirely innocuous, often resembling delicate underwater ferns.