bad things in the water

[anticondo]

Has anyone been down to WW when the water has been overrun with Jellyfish? I really hate it when that happens, also anyone ever had any other problems in the water? I've been pinched by a few crabs, not really a big deal, more funny then scary. One year there were all these small crabs under the sand in the water, you could pick them up and they'd cling to your hand with there claws, I got stung in the face by a Jelly fish one year. I've never seen any sharks down there, I have seen dolphins come pretty close to the swimmers though. Is WW's beach always going to be longer every year? At least they don't have to worry about flooding!

Never seen or been in a rip tide either, all though I did know a woman who fell asleep on a raft and floated out real far. At least there's no more drug needles washing up on the shore, of course maybe that would have scared away the condo people.

[FlyinGN]

I hate the darn jelly fish too.. Last summer was bad in July when we were down there

[MMM]

I could remember a time about 15 years ago when there were jellyfish that must have released their stinger or whatever it's called into the water. This was in the late afternoon/evening. I don't remember the water being overwhelmed with them, but they were around. Gradually as I sat on the beach again, I started getting itchy all over, building more and more for a while. Thankfully taking a shower seemed to help, or was just coincidence that it went away at the same time.

I could also remember a time, maybe a year or 2 after the above, when there were loads of starfish for just a little while one day. I kept a few. I don't consider those to be "bad things" though, just something odd you usually don't see.

I can't stand the seaweed. If there's more than a stray piece or two, I walk out. I don't even eat lettuce, let alone want to wade in it.

[chris]

I remember a long time ago when a child stepped on a horseshoe crab and it went through the top of his foot. It was a strange thing actually....

[novacancy]

Jelly fish are nasty. I'm not a big fan of seaweed either. In particular, the puffy red stuff that lodges itself in your bathing suit and in your hair. I remember one year, many moons ago, there was some sort of worm like creature in the surf. You could see them tunneling into the sand where the water washed up on the beach. EWWW. I'm kind of a neurotic when it comes to ocean water. I'm glad I was blissfully unaware of the "medical waste years" of Wildwood.

[AnthonyV]

Unfortunately, when you step foot in the ocean you are a visitor to natures own environment. All thes things like jellyfish, man-o-war (yes they've been down here too), and seaweed is all part of that natural domain so humans are open prey for anything that swims or floats, bites, stings, or clings to us... Sometimes you'll even see Rays in the water as well but they are more playful and are more common to the LBI area.

There have been riptides down here - especially back in the 1980s when I was a life guard down here - and they were as dangerous as anywhere else along the east coast. The last bad riptides I recall were reported in the summers of 1997-99.

The medical waste scare happened mostly in the summer of 1988. While some dangerous waste drifted towards Wildwood and other parts of Cape May County, places far more north along the Jersey Shore were hit especially bad and had to be closed for almost half the summer. The problem was reported a few times as well over the last 20 years but nothing like in 1988.

The illegally dumped medical waste incidentally was mostly identified as coming from various New York hospitals and medical centers. So NJ was kind of off the hook as far as being blamed for contributing to more of the nations pollution problem.

[anticondo]

I actually did have some kind of sharp thing [don't know what it was] cut through my foot one year, I was bleeding like crazy from what ever it was. I had to wear a kind of bandage/cast over my foot the next 2 weeks at the beach [really sucked bad!]

As far as bizzare things in the water, the most bizzare thing I ever saw was a Hermit Crab under the water. Sometimes I like to go under the water with goggles on, and one time I followed a Hermit Crab from above while looking down on it. Just reminded me how much I love the ocean and WW!

[anticondo]

Sand Bars are pretty strange. It doesn't seem safe to be that far out. Plus did anyone ever notice how long in takes to walk out of the ocean? with the tides pulling you the wrong way.

[choochoochuck]

Last year in July two people drowned in one week in Wildwood. I remember I was on the boardwalk one night and there were search helicopters and search lights and I thought how creepy that something everyone loved could kill somebody. Apparently, an immigrant after his shift at work told his friend's he was going for a swim around like 5 PM. But he never returned.

Chuck

[bono715]

I had heard and noticed a couple of times over the years from 1983-1999 that the 3rd week of July seems to be when the beach and water get overrun with jellyfish. It is really gross. Not sure why it happens during that week. In 1983 I was stung by a huge jellyfish that eventually ended up on the beach. Boy, did that hurt!! I had a welt on leg which did not take long to go away but then my leg started itching. After a shower it did stop.

[nyjay]

I recall that incident last year where the kid drowned. That was very creepy the next day to look out there and knowing someone drowned.

Also last year when we were down the beach was covered with baby jellyfish ball things. They were very gross.

[anticondo]

How about things that should be in the water but aren't anymore, like all the patrons that will not be able to stay in the crest because there is no longer enough motels.

[wildre]

Anyone in a Speedo

re

[Crippled_Visions]

darkrideguy said:

What about heavy set people in skimpy suits....oooofaaaaa

Good call darkrideguy.

[BoardwalkAngel]

The last time I was there - Sept. 2001 - during the weekend right before 9-11, tons of dead fish were floating around and ended up on the beach. Most of them were busted open and decapitated and it smelled horrible! Even the seagulls didn't want to eat them!!!
No one knew what happened...