Do you really need a stinger suit?
It is the classic Sydney summer ruin. You are at the beach. The water is clear. The sun is out. But there is a blue line of jagged debris on the sand.
Bluebottles.
You want to get in the water. But you know the pain that is waiting. You see people wearing full-body Lycra suits. They look like they are heading to the Great Barrier Reef. You wonder if they are overreacting or if they know something you don't.
This is the reality of the "stinger suit."
For years, these suits were only seen in Queensland. They were essential survival gear against Box Jellyfish and Irukandji. Now they are common on Sydney beaches.
Here is why people are wearing them.
What is a stinger suit?
A stinger suit is a full-body swimsuit. It is made from lightweight materials like Lycra or Nylon. It looks like a wetsuit. But it is as thin as a rash vest.
It has one job. It creates a barrier between your skin and the water.
Jellyfish tentacles contain microscopic barbs called nematocysts. These barbs fire in response to mechanical and chemical triggers, like protein. If they touch the fabric of a suit, they are far less likely to penetrate or deliver venom. If they do fire, the barbs are usually too short to penetrate the weave of the cloth.
t is a simple mechanical shield. In most cases, it turns a painful sting into a harmless brush against fabric.
The Sydney difference
In North Queensland, a stinger suit is a piece of safety equipment. The jellyfish there can kill you. In Sydney, the threat is usually the Bluebottle.
A Bluebottle sting won't kill most people. But it can ruin your day. It leaves a red welt. It throbs for hours. If you get stung across the face or neck, it is agony.
Many swimmers wear a rash vest and board shorts. This protects your chest and back. It leaves your arms and legs exposed. Bluebottles have long tentacles. They wrap around limbs. They find the bare skin.
A stinger suit covers everything. It protects your neck, your arms, and your legs. It lets you swim through a minefield of Bluebottles with far less risk of being stung.
It is not a wetsuit
People often confuse stinger suits with wetsuits. They are opposites.
A wetsuit is made of neoprene. It is thick. It is designed to trap water and keep you warm. In the middle of January, a wetsuit can be uncomfortable. It is buoyant and restrictive. It is hard to get on and off.
A stinger suit is breathable. Water flows through it. It does not add buoyancy. It keeps the sun off your skin and the stingers away. But it won't make you overheat.
If you want to snorkel at sheltered bays like Shelly Beach or Clovelly, a stinger suit offers freedom. You feel the water temperature. You don't feel the stings.
The sun factor
There is a secondary benefit. The sun.
A stinger suit is effectively a full-body sunblock. Most act as UPF 50+ protection.
If you are snorkeling for an hour, your back and legs are exposed to direct UV radiation. Sunscreen washes off. A suit does not. It prevents that painful, patchy sunburn on the back of your knees.
Ignore the blue line
You can stand on the shoreline scanning for danger. You can try to dodge the tentacles in the wash. Or you can suit up and ignore them.
Bluebottles are a fact of life in Sydney. They shouldn't dictate when you can get in the water. A stinger suit buys you the confidence to dive in even when the north-easterly is blowing and bluebottles are washing through. It turns a minefield back into a playground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do they stop Bluebottle stings?
Yes. In most situations, the tentacles cannot penetrate the fabric. You might feel the pressure of the tentacle, but the stinging cells are very unlikely to reach your skin.
Do they keep you warm?
No. They are made of thin Lycra. They offer no thermal protection. If you get cold easily, look for a "thermal suit" which is fleece-lined, or a thin neoprene wetsuit.
Can I wear it in the pool?
Yes. However, chlorine degrades Lycra over time. You must rinse the suit thoroughly with fresh water after every use to stop the fabric from perishing.
Are they hard to swim in?
No. They are designed for swimming. They fit like a second skin and create very little drag in the water.
