transparent critters in the sea at Patong Beach

[klfopera]

For last few days there have been transparent jelly like squarish objects (about 1 cm square) in the sea at Patong Beach. Some of them are chained together and have a black dot in the center. Others are without the dot and are unattached. There are oodles of them in the sea, especially today (21 Dec 13). They don't sting. As you walk into the sea you can feel them and there are also many floating higher up. It is not an unpleasant feeling. But we are all puzzled about them. I have been coming to beach for more than 15 years and have never seen or felt these before. We are guessing they are eggs of some sort. But what?

Does anyone know what these things are?

[Farma]

From what you describe it sounds similar to creatures i saw in the Red Sea. The Red Sea ones were larger, about 2/3 the size of my index finger, and in chains of 1 or more metres. Reminded me of machine gun belts

I used to know the name of them but it's slipped my mind for the moment. They are creatures in their own right.

[NomadJoe]

They are not eggs. They are called Salps. They are a form a planktonic tunicate. They are pretty cool little creatures. They are in a "chain" is their early stages of life, and later on break apart into single organisms. They use jet propulsion to travel. I was playing with some during my safety stop just today, showing my customer how easily they break apart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZFuP2LVp5M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZFuP2LVp5M

Edited December 21, 2013 by NomadJoe

[klfopera]

Thanks! Fabulous.

[madmitch]

A lot of sea lice around right now in Karon/Kata. That's what I thought the article was going to be about.

[steelepulse]

Saw a lot of them washed up on the beach in Karon yesterday. Looked like tiny jellies.

[NomadJoe]

Diving on Phi Phi today and near the surface were thousands. Both larger individuals and smaller in chains. Wind and currents bring them in, and we have been having very odd winds the last few days.