The world underwater is full of beautiful creatures, fascinating corals, and captivating life. Most of the beings that occupy the ocean floor are pretty harmless and yet there some unfriendly ones from whom you’d better keep your distance!
When we think of the dangers lurking in the seas, the most likely image to flash in our minds is a humongous shark with its wide-open jaw and razor-sharp teeth!
While the ocean floors are one of the most amazing places to explore, they are not without their dangers. Leaving sharks aside, listed below are some really dangerous creatures you should watch out for when you decide to take that next plunge. Read on to learn more.
Stonefish
The stonefish finds itself ranked as the most venomous fish in the world. It is a master of camouflage and is most likely to go unnoticed.
Though it will steer away from human company, disturbing it can land you to a very painful bite that can cause temporary paralysis and even heart failure. So, it is key to always pay attention to what you step on!
Sea Snakes
Sea snakes can usually be found in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and while they will not attack you unless threatened, it can be dangerous to get too close.
Just three drops of venom from a sea snake can kill about 8 humans. More so, their bite can penetrate straight through your wet-suit!
Flower Urchin
If you have been diving for a while you might have at some point stepped on a sea urchin and experienced the horrendous pain their sting can cause.
While unlike other sea urchins, the flower urchin delivers a potent venom with each sting, causing paralysis that can even lead to death and you certainly don’t want to make friends with these fellows!
Saltwater Crocodile
Third on our list is the saltwater crocodile. They can deliver the most powerful bite in the world, 10 times in strength to that of the great white shark!
Though slow on land, they are super quick and sly underwater and are known to kill at least 2 humans a year while many survivors live to tell horrifying tales of the incident!
Blue-Ringed Octopus
Weighing only 30 grams, the blue-ringed octopus is loaded with enough poison to kill up to 20 humans! The poison is super potent and 1,200 times more powerful than cyanide.
Luckily for us, this creature is shy and hides away from humans. But, you seriously don’t want to go anywhere near it while you are out snorkeling or scuba diving!
Chironex (Box Jellyfish)
The Box Jellyfish is number one on our list of the most dangerous sea creatures. Not only are they super venomous, but completely transparent. They are very difficult to spot, leaving divers screaming in pain and not knowing what bit them!
More so, one sting from a box jellyfish can kill you in less than five minutes. These creatures are known to kill more people in Australia than sharks, crocodiles, and snakes combined. Wearing a thick wetsuit or a hydro-skin can keep you safe from the stings of these dangerous creatures.
The Takeaway
Before you decide to go on an underwater adventure, make sure that you are medically fit, get the right training, buy or rent a good quality wet-suit, and the best equipment guaranteed to assist you on your trip.
The chances that you will get bitten or stung by any of these creatures are extremely low as long as you watch out for them and keep a safe distance!
