Swimming in the sea in Hua Hin

[PeteC]

Any update on this one? With the massive amount of fresh water flowing into the sea to the north, there should be some signs by now on Hua Hin beaches. Anything unusual that hasn't been common at this time of year in the past? Pete

[icebear]

my advice to the OP, stay clear of the water. Just walk the beach and keep your wallet close...

[lomuamart]

I havn't been down to the beach since last Tuesday but there's very little evidence of jellies washed up. The occasional one and that's it.
However, I've noticed far more dead fish than normal. Maybe that's something to do with the fresh water? I'm no marine biologist.
But by far and away the biggest dangers last week were the heavy seas, high tides and the amount of flotsam. I could have got further than Chive Som heading south with a bit of wading but the amount of large, sharp bamboos and coconut husks were enough to put me off. I didn't really want a length of bamboo through my leg or hit on the knee by a coconut.
The tide has probably receded quite a bit by now and the Toessabahn (I assume) were doing as good a job as they could daily cleaning up the beach.
The Wora Bura was showing a red flag for swimming for about a week. I'm not surprised.

[slivovica]

I wonder if the tourism authority or whoever is in charge is doing something about the jellyfish problem. For one of the main mainland beach resorts in Thailand, where the beach and being able to swim in the sea is the main draw for tourists, the jelly problem seems to me quite a significant issue.

During my previous visits in September I was verry cautious about swimming and actually saw very few people in the water. End of October this year, I felt more comfortable as I read jellys only appear in the rainy season and also I saw many people in the water for an extended period without screams of pain or panic.

Wouldn't it be possible to fence off a part of the beach/water that would be kept jelly-free as I heared they do in countries where they have shark problems? Otherwise, at least to have warning signs or flags that alert people not to swim when jellys have been sighted. I think the red flag I saw last week was more about the waves. Also, it seems people who should be able to provide information (hotel reception desk, tourist police) did not have much reliable information on the jelly situation. I would think people in the tourism business in HH should have a vested interest in at least providing reliable information sources to tourists on the situation and beyond that perhaps take steps to mitigate the issue.

btw: someone on a previous post wrote there are not box jelly fish in HH. I had read somewhere that there are. What is correct?

[PeteC]

Unfortunately it's just not in Thailand's nature to be proactive in the ways you suggest. The jelly nets are in use on the Gold Coast of Australia I believe, and they work except for that one very small and deadly species I forget the name of.

The point is, if they put nets up they would forget about them and soon enough they would be broken and in pieces and of no use at all. There are quite a few places in Thailand where the local gov can't even maintain swimming area ropes and buoys but simply let them rot and deteriorate. It takes a rebellion from the population to get them replaced.

Perhaps when the day comes when there are no tourists, the light bulb will go on for those in charge, but don't hold your breath. Pete

[slivovica]

Thanks, pcscct. That's a shame. Also, it seems there are not life guards on the beach that would have a medical kit handy to help if someone does get stung.

That reminds me an anecdote I exprerienced last week: I was sitting in one of the many restaurants built on the beach left of where the horses are kept and had an overpriced breakfast when I saw how the waitress/owner was sweeping the beach in front of her tables. She picked up the flotsam like branches from trees and threw them into the water, only for them to be washed back ashore 10 seconds later!

[PeteC]

The way the Tourism Authority operates is one of my gripes. They spend a huge amount of time and money coming up with catchy jingles and names for programs, but they forget their core purpose. They should be concentrating on the details such as safe and clean beaches and a long list of other things to make the tourist go away with a good feeling and a desire to return again. If they did that, Thailand would market itself. Pete

[Lung Per]

Here's how you get rid of the jellyfish problem: Give a reward of 20 baht for every jellyfish caught. You will see Thais in numbers searching the beaches. And who should pay? The Thai Tourism Authority/Tessaban.
I know - this is just too easy......

[slivovica]

Here's how you get rid of the jellyfish problem: Give a reward of 20 baht for every jellyfish caught. You will see Thais in numbers searching the beaches.

Oooh, I can see people collect all sorts of jellyfish with bare hands to get the money.

[Lung Per]

Here's how you get rid of the jellyfish problem: Give a reward of 20 baht for every jellyfish caught. You will see Thais in numbers searching the beaches.

Oooh, I can see people collect all sorts of jellyfish with bare hands to get the money.

Thais do know about nets....

[lomuamart]

Many years ago there were nets that cordoned off the Marriott and Chiva Som - possibly The Hyatt as well. They went in place during the jellyfish season.
At low tide you can still see the anchors if you know where to look. Those nets havn't been in place for years now. I can still remember tripping over the lines when the sea was rough and you couldn't see underfoot.

[PeteC]

Deluge water 'won't kill off marine life'

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... arine-life

Published: 12/11/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Unusually large amounts of fresh water pouring into the sea as a result of major flooding is unlikely to have a serious impact on the marine ecological system, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources says.

Recent reports about massive fish deaths in coastal provinces along the Gulf of Thailand during the floods in the Central Plains triggered concerns about the impact of flooding on marine life.

Experts have said large quantities of fresh water flowing into the sea might cause a sudden change in its salinity, leading marine animals to die.

However, Nitas Bhuwattanakul, acting chief of the DMCR, yesterday played down the concerns, saying marine life could adjust to the change.

The impact of flooding on marine and coastal ecology was not as serious as mangrove encroachment and coastal erosion, Mr Nitas said.

''Fresh water pouring into the sea is a natural event.

''The ecological system and marine life can adjust to the amount of fresh water,'' he said.

Mongkol Muakkham of the Network of the Natural Resources and Environment Conservation along the Gulf of Thailand, however, said large amounts of fresh and polluted water flowing into the Gulf had affected more than 10,000 rai of shell farms in Samut Sakon, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi provinces.

Residents also spotted hundreds of stingrays floating on the sea surface _ a phenomenon indicating there was a low level of oxygen in the sea water, the environmentalist said.

[slivovica]

Many years ago there were nets that cordoned off the Marriott and Chiva Som - possibly The Hyatt as well. They went in place during the jellyfish season.
At low tide you can still see the anchors if you know where to look. Those nets havn't been in place for years now. I can still remember tripping over the lines when the sea was rough and you couldn't see underfoot.

Wow! So my idea wasn't absurd after all. It's a shame they stopped maintaining them. So it was the private initiative of some of the big hotels?

[Lung Per]

Many years ago there were nets that cordoned off the Marriott and Chiva Som - possibly The Hyatt as well. They went in place during the jellyfish season.
At low tide you can still see the anchors if you know where to look. Those nets havn't been in place for years now. I can still remember tripping over the lines when the sea was rough and you couldn't see underfoot.

Wow! So my idea wasn't absurd after all. It's a shame they stopped maintaining them. So it was the private initiative of some of the big hotels?

YOUR idea????

[slivovica]

Many years ago there were nets that cordoned off the Marriott and Chiva Som - possibly The Hyatt as well. They went in place during the jellyfish season.
At low tide you can still see the anchors if you know where to look. Those nets havn't been in place for years now. I can still remember tripping over the lines when the sea was rough and you couldn't see underfoot.

Wow! So my idea wasn't absurd after all. It's a shame they stopped maintaining them. So it was the private initiative of some of the big hotels?

YOUR idea????

I had shared the idea on this thread (see my post of Nov 6 above) to use nets, not knowing at the time that such nets have been in operation in the past, as I had now learned.