Croatia

[ktlou]

Hi all, I'm going here in July for the first time with my bf and his family. I'm not confident swimming in the sea, mainly cos of the fish etc (it creeps me out a bit!!) and they keep saying there are big black spiky sea anemones that can stab you in the foot if you stand on them! Is this true and if so, will Jelly Shoes or flippers protect my feet? Or should I just not go swimming!

[ali_alic]

Just got back from Kenya and there were loads of black spikey see anemones, they were beautiful bu the spikes weren't sharp enough to stick into you. Maybe jellies would be a good idea for you anyway - makes it easier to run out of the sea if you have foot protection (I know, I've done it loads of times!).

[ktlou]

phew, thats ok then, thanks ali_alic! I expect I will be running out of the sea at some point, if any big fish come swimming anywhere near me, they won't see me for dust (or sand!). I have some jellies so think I'll just make sure I wear them permanently then I don't need to worry! Thanks!

[Keeprockin]

Northern part of what was once Yugoslavia have a lot of sea urchins because of stones in sea,and believe me,you'll know if you stand on one. For paddling i'd reccomend rubber beach shoes. The good thing is you can usually see them because of the clarity of the water

[informashun]

i have been along the coast of croatia and what you refer to are sea urchins.

they are everywhere and have mega nasty spikes.

my advice is dont ever go for a dip.

[ktlou]

oh great, thats all i needed to hear! Are you serious, are they that bad? my bf's family have been before and I don't remember them saying they ever got stabbed before, so how come! And they spend the whole hol swimming etc! Surely if I wore jellies or rubber shoes they wouldn't get me would they?

[waimarie]

Hi ktlou, Remember, the great W.C.Fields, when asked if he wanted water in his whisky, replied "Certainly not, fish fornicate in water". The same could be said for swimming in the sea. Me, I never go near the stuff.

[Keeprockin]

They seem to congregate mostly where there are a few rocks in water and near any kind of sea wall. I stood on one near a sea wall and the gaffer had to spend about half-an-hour with her tweezers pulling the spines out of my foot. Not the most painful thing in the worl,but not funny all the same, although the missus was doing her best not to find it so :) A lot of people paddle in rubber slip-ons,I don't think they can penetrate those. Take nheart.most people don't come into contact with them.

[Fulton]

Where does fish poo go? Are you swimming about in it? Think about that the next time you are swimming in the sea.

[ktlou]

hmmm, i'm being rather put off the whole sea swimming thing now........