Red Tide - Sarasota

[teabag]

I was planning to go on down to Sarasota for 4/5 nights to give my tired aching feet a rest in the lovely sand, but have only just discovered what Red Tide is. I've been going there on holidays for ages now, and wondered why people prefer the pools rather than the sea, I always thought it was the sharks! I know the hotels are supposed to advise when Red Tide is present, but have just read an article about Americans who have complained of rashes, respiratory problems etc :confused2 Am thinking I should maybe do the Disney cruise now and just make do with Castaway Cay ;)

[Sooty]

When we were there last year visiting a friend in sarasota we went to the beach and although absolutley stunning there was a awful smell that really took your breath away, Our friend who lives there told us all about the red tide I really think its best to stay away from the beach when its present!!

Christine

[scottfeltham]

hi ,we was on a beach in naples last sept, which had the red tide the previous few days
there was thousands of dead fish on the beach,from minnows to 20lbs fish
it was like something from a film
no one went in the sea
scott

[mart77]

We were on the Gulf coast last summer which was one of the worst years in recent time for Red tide. But everybody was still in the water as usual including ourselves. You can see the fish being washed up so just keep out of the way when they come in. The only thing i could work out that was different was the slight smell sometimes in the air that could get on your chest. Every beach we went on that had life guards did not stop anybody going in the water because of this so it the invisible to the human eye bacteria cant be harmful to humans surely. We spent over a week on the beach and in the water and will do the same this year if Red Tide is present. The only thing was it wasnt nice seeing some of these fine marine animals being washed up on the beach. All the beaches we went on were cleaning up every morning and sometimes at night.

[teabag]

I have found the redtide.com website which gives daily reports on levels of red tide and some interesting info. Also the Sarasota Marine Mote site is very informative. Sarasota is a beautiful place and the beaches are cleaned twice a day by the sand ploughs, but last time we went in the sea my son came out in a red rash across his chest which seems to be very common in red tide, but we did not see or smell anything ! MOH still wants to go, as reckons he couldn't stand the mouse any longer especially not on a ship!! I might have some work to do on that one ;)

[Scotty]

Sea lice at Castaway cay can be a problem too. not as bad as red tide but worth remembering.

[teabag]

aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh :omg:

[tigger&eeyore]

whats red tide?

[flikflak]

We were there in September/October last and went down to the end of the beach at Siesta Key. As soon as we got out of the car we all started coughing. When we walked on to the beach there were a few dead fish on the sand.

We decided against staying on that beach but a 10 min drive up the road it was fine and we went on the beach and into the sea without any problems.