Black stinging "weed" underwater - what is it?

[deborahdelamar]

Do any of you photographers have shots of Punta Tunich Dropoff for Dr. Bill? (That site's a carpet of them, so they should be very easy to see.)

 

[driftin' by]

It would be interesting to see pix of this species

I only take pictures of things I like. Actually I'm sure I have one but it's easier to find someone else's example on the net. I don't want to post someone else's work so you'll have to click the link below. I think this is a good example of the one we're talking about?

http://reefguide.org/pixhtml/stingingbushhydroid1.html

 

[ggunn]

I only take pictures of things I like. Actually I'm sure I have one but it's easier to find someone else's example on the net. I don't want to post someone else's work so you'll have to click the link below. I think this is a good example of the one we're talking about?

Stinging Bush Hydroid - Macrorhynchia robusta - Isla Mujeres, Mexico - Photo 1 - Tropical Reefs

Oh, yeah, that's the stuff all right. When the picture popped up it made me want to jump back from my computer. ;^)

 

[driftin' by]

:lol: Me too!

 

[budaman]

Gee, and all this time I thought this was just a cool looking coral. Glad we didn't brush up against it! Took last May on our trip.

Mike

 

[Sue Sue]

Oh what a delicate, feather-like, airy, harmless looking little bush...:evil: As I mentioned, I have encountered this stuff twice....not something I want to happen again. Thanks for the photo Sue

 

[down4fun]

Thanks to all for the information. I just returned from Coz yesterday and my Left hand shows the battle scars of some free floating nasties. I think the little college princesses next to me on the plane were afraid I was contagious. It was actually kind of fun in my own sadistic way

 

[drbill]

Fortunately I've experienced a number of species of hydroid with stings that can cause welts, so I would recognize this critter as most likely one of that group. Don't remember seeing it further south in Belize, but knowing what it was I might have just ignored it. Thanks for the pix.

 

[caseybird]

Whenever I talk to non-divers about diving, they always ask me if I'm scared of sharks. Of course, I put on my best "sea hunt" face and tell them that's all part of the job, nothing to worry about. I usually don't tell them what really hurts is the little stuff that doesn't move. If it's on a reef, looks helpless and can't possibly hurt you, It's full of stingers.
Someday I'll get home from Coz sting free.

 

[ggunn]

Whenever I talk to non-divers about diving, they always ask me if I'm scared of sharks. Of course, I put on my best "sea hunt" face and tell them that's all part of the job, nothing to worry about. I usually don't tell them what really hurts is the little stuff that doesn't move. If it's on a reef, looks helpless and can't possibly hurt you, It's full of stingers.

On a long ago Coz trip, before I was a diver, while out snorkeling I picked up a bristle worm. Lesson learned, the hard way. ;^)