I was helping teach a night dive course. On our last dive of the night, we ascended to do our safety stop. Suddenly the lead instructor frantically signals me with his flashlight and was pointing to something next to our students. To this day that’s the only box jellyfish I’ve seen; swimming approx 2-3 m from our students.
We’re both trying to (as calmly as possible) signal our students to swim towards us. For whatever reason they couldn’t understand and were oblivious that one of the most venomous creatures was right next to them; we just gave the signal to ascend and end the dive.
On the surface, we used some colorful language to motivate them to swim a little faster. Once we were safely on shore and inspected them from any stray tentacle on their wetsuit, we broke the news to them to prevent any further hysteria.
From the grace of king Neptune himself, no one was stung. It was one of the those few moments where me and another human being were on the same wavelength thru sheer terror.
I’ve been nearly k****d before from unrelenting undertows and currents, but when the life of someone is suddenly flashing before you. That hits different. 10/10 dive tho, immaculate diving conditions, would do again.
We’re both trying to (as calmly as possible) signal our students to swim towards us. For whatever reason they couldn’t understand and were oblivious that one of the most venomous creatures was right next to them; we just gave the signal to ascend and end the dive.
On the surface, we used some colorful language to motivate them to swim a little faster. Once we were safely on shore and inspected them from any stray tentacle on their wetsuit, we broke the news to them to prevent any further hysteria.
From the grace of king Neptune himself, no one was stung. It was one of the those few moments where me and another human being were on the same wavelength thru sheer terror.
I’ve been nearly k****d before from unrelenting undertows and currents, but when the life of someone is suddenly flashing before you. That hits different. 10/10 dive tho, immaculate diving conditions, would do again.