Stingersuits – what are they and do I need one?
Stingersuits are known by many names, and are important to wear at the beach and in the ocean around Australia.
You may know them as Rashies, Sun Shirts, Lycra, Rash Guards etc.
One of the main dangers at the beach in Australia is the sun! On a hot, sunny day it only takes a few minutes to get a sunburn, and increased sunburns have been show to increase your risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen only works so well, and can quickly wash off, so fully protecting yourself with a Rashie is a great option.
There are many more reasons to wear stinger suit at the beach as well, there are many dangers in the ocean like jellyfish, sharp rocks and strong currents. Having something covering your body can reduce the chance of being injured.
– What is a stinger suit?Â
The classic stinger suit is a one piece full length lycra suit with mittens and hood attached. They are made especially for the Australian market and are not the most flattering outfit – but very practical for stinger and sun protection.Â
Best add-on feature: No more sunscreen needed when you are in the water 🙂
For the water sport enthusiasts there are many varied options to the traditional one-piece stinger suit. You can mix and match your favourite lycra full length top with leggings and a lycra hood – the options are endless. Check it out here.
A camouflage suit can break up your silhouette and hide you against your background
– Is it safe to swim in the stinger nets?
The stinger nets that are placed in the water in the warmer months in tropical waters are designed to protect from one dangerous stinger only, the box jelly fish. Due to the design of the net the holes are too big for the tiny Irukandji stingers – you need to wear additional protection like a stinger suit even when you swim in the nets. This is especially important for infants, small children and pregnant women.
In the southern states of Australia the jelly you have to look out for is the Bluebottle Jellyfish. This species isn’t deadly but causes sever pain when encountered. Therefore wearing a stinger suit is always recommended.
Beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and they regularly skim the water to establish the stinger density in the water and will close the beaches if recommended.
A lot of people get stung in the shallow waters while strolling along the beach not being aware of the risks.
– Can I still visit the reef?
Yes of course, most of the popular outer reef locations are about 50km away from the shore where stinger densities are the most. All tour operators will provide rental stinger suits or similar, for hygienic reasons we recommend to get your own here.
