the Editor says: Heading to the beach for water activities every summer is a seasonal ritual for many of us, but in all the excitement we often overlook the risks lurking beneath the surface. The Editor always says that the scariest thing underwater isn't the shark (sharks are honestly adorable) — it's the seemingly harmless creatures lying quietly off to the side, minding their own business. We're sharing this article from someone who learned the hard way, in the hope that whenever you head out to enjoy the ocean, you'll stay alert to your own safety — and know exactly what to do if something goes wrong, so you can minimize harm as quickly as possible. Full article reprinted from Yu-Chen Kyle Wu's personal Facebook page.
Following my previous episode as a "sea urchin superhero," I've once again been struck down by an unidentified marine creature. If getting attacked by an animal turns you into that animal's superhero, I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what I transform into this time...
How It All Happened
On June 13th, a night diving session led by a seasoned veteran took us straight to the legendary Rhinopias spot, and we shot plenty of footage. So on Sunday I went back with a purely tourist-and-sharing mindset to revisit the same site (the veteran himself just grabbed a dive light and headed out — that kind of selfless dedication left me not just speechless, but floored with admiration).
Purple Rhinopias
It happened on June 14th, during the 7th and final dive of the weekend at the 825 dive site on the Northeast Coast. Early that Sunday morning, Zhong-ge had reported seeing two purple Rhinopias — one large, one small — so our mission was to locate the second one for friends who hadn't seen it yet, rather than have everyone queue up in a human centipede conga line to photograph the first. We spent the entire tank circling the area near the first purple sea fan, playing a game of "Where's the Rhinopias?" Then, just as the veteran was signaling the return in the water, I spotted a purple blob swaying in an oddly unnatural way. I looked more closely — it was the second, smaller Rhinopias!
By then everyone had received the turn-around signal. The veteran and Gary were already well ahead. Wesley was slowly drifting toward me, so I started frantically gesturing — pointing like mad at the Rhinopias. Because of the distance, he looked back at me with a slightly puzzled expression, making vague sounds underwater. His face was probably only about 15 cm from the Rhinopias but he still couldn't quite tell what I was pointing at. Driven by the principle that "if there's no photo, it didn't happen," I kicked down a little further and stretched out my right hand to point directly at the Rhinopias's face.
Pain Level Spikes — Could I Pass Out?
What I didn't realize in that moment was that my neutral buoyancy had drifted and my left hand had dropped too low, lightly grazing the reef. I was immediately hit by a sudden, intense pain — roughly 7.5 out of 10 on the pain scale. Even underwater I could clearly make out two puncture wounds on my middle finger and one on my ring finger. The blood from the wounds diffused through the water like smoke curling from three little chimneys. The searing pain that followed made me think the venom must be highly neurotoxic. I checked my dive computer: I was at 20 m, roughly 400 m from shore. In that moment I genuinely worried I might pass out from the pain.
I ascended at the fastest safe rate (10 m per minute) while kicking as hard as I could toward shore. The anxiety and exertion caused my heart rate to spike, which could have spread the venom through my bloodstream to my heart even faster — so for the entire return swim I clenched my left middle finger tightly with my right hand. I squeezed it so hard that the waterlogged, pale, wrinkled skin (yes, only when soaking in seawater do my hands ever look that white) began showing dark purplish veins, like something out of a slow-acting poison. I honestly worried whether those dark streaks were veins or venom pooling beneath the skin. I may never know the answer, but there was indeed a patch that gradually darkened, spreading like a bruise.
The fingers that touched the Rhinopias, visibly swollen
All I had in my head at that point was survival. I focused on three things: the wound on my middle finger, the ascent rate on my dive computer, and my breathing efficiency. I didn't pay special attention to my pressure gauge because I knew I still had 100 bar — more than enough to get back. My only goal was to reach 6 m as fast as possible for my safety stop. I made it to shore, thankfully, but the pain hadn't eased at all. In the car my hand was trembling, my body was curled up and I couldn't sit normally — every second was a struggle. Gary decided to run several red lights and head to the nearest hospital in Keelung rather than driving all the way back to Taipei, because there was simply no way I could endure an extra 20–30 minutes of that pain.
Injections and hot-water soaking for pain relief in the emergency room
At the ER, the doctor administered a tetanus shot, an antibiotic injection, and a painkiller. I was asked to keep soaking the wound in clean hot water, but the painkiller had virtually no effect — half an hour later I was still writhing in the hospital bed, so they gave me a second dose. Still barely any relief. I asked the doctor for something stronger, and after a final dose of what turned out to be a morphine-like analgesic, the pain gradually faded, though the numbness in my hand remained. At least I could finally rest — I even napped for about ten minutes and dreamed I was diving and happily photographing seahorses. I sincerely believe morphine is a wonderful thing. A doctor friend later confirmed that last medication was indeed quite potent.
Takeaways
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Whatever happens underwater, don't get too excited. Excessive emotional reactions at best disrupt your breathing efficiency and at worst turn a good time into a disaster.
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If you are injured, make sure to look back and identify what creature caused it — this is critical information for subsequent medical treatment. The same applies to snakebites: knowing the species allows doctors to administer the correct antivenom.
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For stings and bites, rinse and soak the wound in warm water immediately. If warm water isn't available, use clean water — avoid tap water where possible.
As of June 14th, the pain was gone. All that remained was localized numbness in my middle finger, disgustingly large blisters, and an endless course of antibiotics under hospital observation.
The Editor's Notes
Marine life is fascinating and otherworldly, but the creatures most likely to hurt you are often the dull, easy-to-overlook ones sitting right in front of you. Here's a quick rundown of some common hazards and basic first-aid responses:
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Cone snail: Known as the number-one weapon of the intertidal zone, its beautiful shell lies quietly on the seafloor and is frequently spotted during intertidal exploration — but don't be fooled into picking one up just because it moves slowly! Cone snails extend a venomous dart from within their shell to paralyze prey; the toxin is a type of protein-based venom that can cause neurological, muscular, and cardiac damage in humans. There is currently no antivenom. If stung by a cone snail, immediately wrap the affected area with a bandage to restrict blood flow and seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
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Stonefish, rabbitfish, Lionfish, sea urchin, Stingray: All of these creatures carry protein-based venoms. If you come into contact with any of them, get out of the water immediately and soak the affected area in hot water for at least 30 minutes to denature the proteins and reduce their activity. The author of this article is believed to have been stung by a stonefish. All of these animals are very common in Taiwan's nearshore waters. When diving, maintain proper neutral buoyancy at all times to avoid accidental contact. If basic first aid doesn't adequately manage the pain, seek medical attention promptly.
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Jellyfish: In early summer, the waters off northern Taiwan are often thick with jellyfish (southern Taiwan tends to see them in autumn and winter). Jellyfish species vary widely, as do their venom levels and effects. Individual reactions to jellyfish nematocysts also differ greatly — most people experience redness and swelling or inflammation, while more severe reactions can include vomiting, fever, or even cardiac shock. Take this seriously. If stung by a jellyfish, get out of the water and use seawater or dry sand to remove any tentacles — do not use your bare hands or fresh water (alcohol and urine are strictly off-limits), as these can trigger further nematocyst discharge. Then apply or soak the area in food-grade vinegar to reduce nematocyst activity. Applying a cold pack can also help limit the spread and reduce discomfort. If symptoms persist after a while, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The golden rule when heading to the ocean for any water activity: don't touch marine life. Beyond building solid neutral buoyancy for diving, if you're exploring intertidal areas, resist the urge to handle creatures you don't recognize — it's a matter of respecting wildlife and protecting yourself. And if you are unlucky enough to get stung or bitten, beyond immediate first aid, make sure you identify the animal responsible, so you don't end up applying the wrong treatment and making things worse.
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