Banner of the Public Participation Drainage Authority of the Mobile fire brigade area

The quality of life in Haifa has declined: Why are Haifa residents less satisfied?

From the Central Bureau of Statistics: A significant decrease in the satisfaction of...

Water explosion near Neopolitan, Haifa

This morning, Tuesday, January 14.01.2025, XNUMX, an explosion occurred in the water pipe in the area...

Residents fear a renewed increase after the significant decrease • The pigs in Haifa

(Live here) - After a period of significant decrease in attendance...
Haifa museums banner
General workshops wide
Banner for the restoration of the Kabara area - public participation - Rahav
Banner Gordon 240624
Carmel Castle banner
Banner of the 171124 Economic Company
Haifa museums banner
General workshops wide
Live advertising - wide - animated

Ofer Winter's problem • Opinion

I saw the interview that Ofer Winter gave to Omer Assenheim and I was impressed...

An exciting nostalgic journey between the paths of past and present • Bat Galim celebrates a century - tastings from the exhibition

Beit Galim festival musicians are pleasant with their playing for the visitors of the nostalgic exhibition...

Forgery and impersonation on the Internet • Financial exploitation, espionage, false love and heartache

The internet age has opened up a new world of possibilities for us, including...

"Ammi" • The last neighborhood cinema that operated in Haifa

The 40th Haifa International Film Festival is coming to an end and with it...

Flower of the week • Spring Sabion

Carmel presents us with flowers in all seasons. In this column...

Prickly, painful and almost invisible • Autumn in Haifa under water

(lives here on the beaches) - What are the mysterious and invisible creatures that sting the swimmers on Haifa's beaches? Some swimmers call them "sea lice". Here you can get to know them.


The nuisances in the sea are back, and like every year at that time, the phenomenon of bites, burns, and burns from the hands of creatures that are almost invisible, but cause unpleasant injuries to say the least, returns.

Plankton batter - under water (photo: Motty Mendelsohn)

Before we get into the explanation of the phenomenon, we note that in order to anticipate a cure for a stroke, it is possible and desirable, when entering the water, to wear a lycra shirt with high denier units, which can definitely save the pain of burns in the sensitive parts of the body.

Siphonophora underwater - so tiny that it can hardly be seen (photo: Motty Mendelsohn)

The water in the sea is already cooling down and there are swimmers who have started wearing wetsuits or diving suits, which, as mentioned, will also help in dealing with the burns.

Siphonophora - tiny and almost invisible (photo: Motty Mendelsohn)

During the summer, when there are burns in the water and no jellyfish are seen around, it is already known which are the hunting arms of jellyfish such as the wandering cord. But now, in the autumn period, and according to reports from the swimmers in the field and the description of those who "kidnapped" a sting, and did not notice the thing they suspected as being responsible for it, I realized that it was probably siphonophores, relatives of the jellyfish.

Siphonophora - prickly and almost invisible (photo: Motty Mendelsohn)

When the sea is rough and even when it's calm, it's very difficult to see what's stung in the water, especially when it comes to a creature the size of a pinhead, like the siphonophora.

Photo taken last year (photo: Motty Mendelsohn)

So, one of the last mornings, a lifeguard named Nazi called me from the open beach in Bat Galim, and told me that people were coming out of the water burned and sore, and he also attached photos of the burns.

Through the macro lenses - tiny and almost invisible (photo: Motty Mendelson)

I arrived at the beach and after snorkeling, according to the instructions of the swimmers who indicated a certain distance from the beach where they were hit, these creatures that you will see here in the photos were observed, which I captured in a jar to understand what it was about. in a glass vessel.

Painful burns (photo: Sarah the swimmer)

It should be known that when we are in the sea, we are swimming among different and diverse creatures and in fascinating worlds of their kind, which cannot be seen at all with the naked eye. In this case you can see it in pictures taken with a good camera.

Through the macro lenses - as tiny as the size of a pinhead (photo: Motty Mendelson)

In the snorkel dives that I made in the last few days, the tiny creatures were photographed through macro lenses. that's them Zooplankton and also Phytoplankton, very tiny creatures, whose photography is quite rare.

Siphonophore batter (Photo: Motty Mendelsohn)

So, as I opened the article, if you are one of those who swim in the sea in any season and in any weather, I strongly recommend that you wear some kind of clothing, even a long-sleeved t-shirt is better than bare skin, until the rage passes.

Painful burns (photo: Sarah the swimmer)

contact: At watsapBy email

Motty Mendelssohn
Motty Mendelssohn
Marine researcher (diving, underwater photography) and marine and environmental ecology for 35 years. Lecturer in the field for about 20 years. You can order a lecture or a series of lectures accompanied by unique and spectacular photos, taken during many years of research, in Israel and abroad • 050-7271157 • [email protected]

Articles related to this topic

13 תגובות

  1. You are invited to swim at Achziv beach. There are other problems here, (although minor stabbings also happened here and there, and I heard that someone kidnapped you). The beach belongs to "Meta Asher" the regional council of Meta Asher which ignores the swimmers and also people who just come to catch some sun. As far as the council is concerned, visitors do not need toilets or water. If there is no lifeguard then no one comes to the beach and no one needs toilets and of course water. Calling everyone who loves the beach and the sea to write to them. Stingy and emotionless.
    There are toilets, but why clean? It's best to lock them and that's it. Hold back until April.

    • I was also stung on the beach, a painful sting and the whole place is swollen

  2. Thank you very much for the interesting article Moti,
    Undoubtedly, these creatures stung me today not far from the Bat Galimi buoy. It was nice to meet you in person, and also Lori, continue to make a difference in the world of the sea and beyond and share with us your great knowledge and your spectacular photographs.

  3. Once again, Moti put a spotlight on a particularly unpleasant phenomenon, thank you for another interesting article

  4. Thank you, dear Motti. You bring us again and again into the hidden depths of the sea and nature with your special photography. You are welcome.

  5. good morning easy

    Meaning "until anger passes"
    This is a phrase related only to the current swarm of scalders and is not related to one faith or another.
    FYI... Bat Galim Beach is a clean beach and nature thrives there.

  6. Bat Galim beach is neglected and dirty, full of greenery and probably attracts owners of animals who find it a comfortable place for their dark and stinging activities, action must be taken to remove these filth and microbes, through the flora and fauna department that the Ministry of Environmental Quality is in charge of, what is this "until anger passes" " , maybe you will also call to pray to the Holy One, blessed be He, to save us from this blow???

  7. Well done, my friend Muti from Dalson. Good night

  8. I was waiting for a scientist to explain the unpleasant phenomenon. now everything is clear. Kidnap every day by swimming. bless you well done.

  9. You did have an enjoyable visit to the sea waters of Haifa, my reporter friend Moti. I hope you enjoyed it. In my opinion, this is a reliable and important coverage of the autumn jellyfish. Good luck, my researcher friend, and have a pleasant swim.

The article is closed for comments. You can share online using the share buttons

All the articles are alive

Workers working on Highway 22 were hit by a passing vehicle

MDA informed the Haifa - News Corporation: At 00:51, a report was received at MDA's 101 hotline in the Carmel area about workers who were hit by a vehicle during road works...

Shooting in Kiryat Yam: Two moderately injured

(Hai Pa) - Shooting continues on the streets - Two injured in a shooting incident on Moshe Sharett Street in Kiryat Yam. The background is apparently criminal. The police are investigating. The police told Hai...

In the Shadow of War: Why did former Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi come to school in Haifa?

Earlier this week (Sunday, 12/1/2025), the former 22nd Chief of Staff of the State of Israel, Major General Aviv Kochavi, paid a special visit to the "Degania" school in Kiryat Haim. Kochavi, a son of...

Live Here | Closing of the "Our Kitchen" restaurant in Haifa due to serious deficiencies

Announcement from the Ministry of Health: On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Dr. Rana Shibli, Haifa District Physician, signed an administrative closure order for the "Our Kitchen" restaurant, on Palim Street...

Impressive achievements for the Real Haifa teams in the Haifa District Cross-Country Championship

(Hai Fa) - Today, Tuesday, 14/01/25, the Haifa District Cross-Country Championship was held in the "Eco" Park in Hadera, an event considered one of the highlights of the year's sporting activity...