First Stay On The Cliffs (Seastar Inn & Catcha) Trip report: Day 4 - 7

[Clarity]

Thanks for your comments
Lol Booger!

Rum – Yes, you are right – my fear of Lionfish is due to a personal run-in with one. This was during my first trip to Jamaica in April.

On our last day, we decided to venture up to the cliffs to snorkel at Xtabi. I had been snorkeling around with Markus for a long time and I was exhausted. I gestured to him that I was heading out of the water. I swam to the ladder which is up against the rocks.

That’s when I saw my first lionfish. A HUGE ONE.

It was floating in front of the ladder, blocking my exit. It wasn’t moving at all.

I had never seen a lionfish before and I didn’t know it was poisonous. I continued swimming towards the ladder and Markus suddenly gripped my arm tightly. I froze. The lionfish flipped over suddenly, like it was dead.

I didn’t realize that this was a lionfish “attack stance” (they flip over when they feel threatened)

Markus explained that this was a very dangerous fish and to stay back. That was when I felt complete panic. I just wanted to get out of the water! I’m not a great swimmer (I doggy paddle) so the anxiety was making it hard for me to stay afloat. I felt like I was trapped in some kind of horror movie – like “OPEN WATER” and I expected to be suddenly surrounded on all sides.

As soon as the lionfish drifted far enough away from the ladder for me to make a clean exit, I clambered out of the water shaking and trembling. I didn’t go back into the water for the rest of that trip. (well, it was just before sunset on our last night, so that’s not as dramatic as it sounds) Markus continued swimming and saw 7 more. He took lots of pics. He was all excited about it. Meanwhile, I had Lionfish nightmares for weeks. lol


(one of his underwater shots)

So that was my close brush with a lionfish. Luckily Markus was there to pull me back away from the ladder before I got stung. Now I’ve read up on dangerous fish, so I’m a lot more educated.

But on the positive side, I didn’t see any on our last trip. We spent a lot of time swimming off the cliffs without a problem. My concerns were unwarranted.

Still hate em’ though.

As far as the pictures being cut off, I’m not sure why you see them that way on your computer. On mine they aren’t. Are they cut off for everybody?

[Craig123]

Thanks for your comments

Rum As far as the pictures being cut off, I’m not sure why you see them that way on your computer. On mine they aren’t. Are they cut off for everybody?

They display fine on my computer.

[irie luv]

Looking forward to the rest of the adventure. You guys did LOT in 3 days. Those were the longest 3 days ever!!!

[Lorax2]

"While I watched him interact with all the kids in the water, I thought of how he’d make a great Dad some day… Someday very soon."
Hmmm...Miss Clarity, is there something you want to tell us?
Are congratulations in order ?
Respect, Dave

[Maryann]

No, not cut off for me, but you have to take your mouse and slide the bar to the right on the bottom of the pic to get the full view (probably not explaining that very well).

[Rum-polephoreskin]

This is really vain but that cut off ruined a piture of mine-I wouldn't have posted that particular pic if I had known it would get cut off that way.

"That rug tied the whole room together."

I haven't seen your pix on my Mac yet but on my work PC they're all cut off on the right (except the first one).

[gerryg123]

if you re-set the Zoom, the pics won't get cut off ... Clarity, great pics btw .... Famous VIncent told me if you get stung on the arm by a lionfish, your arm will puff up like a basketball ....

[marley9808]

.... Famous VIncent told me if you get stung on the arm by a lionfish, your arm will puff up like a basketball ....

I don't see this as being information that really helps her fear out any LOL

[Rumrunner]

I can see your pictures perfectly. They are GREAT!

[Rum-polephoreskin]

My guess is there is probably a greater liklihood of running into a jellyfish than a lionfish.
Lionfish are easy to see and they are slow.
They may be territorial (according to Wikipedia anyway) but I don't see one pursuing you.