Going to Cairns and concerned about jellyfish (stingers)? Would you like more information on stingers and stinger suit hire? If so, contact www.allcairnstours.com.au or Cairns Beaches Tourist Information Centre phone 07 4055 7158.

Stinger suits provide protection from marine jellyfish such as the box jellyfish, Irukandji and others found in Australian waters around Cairns. There is a range of stinger suits available. The best option is the full length, ultra-lightweight, cool, breathable and with a hood and mits. The North Queensland version of a stinger suit is called a onesie. They cover your whole body except for your face and offer a high level of sun and jellyfish protection. In fact, we go to the reef and use the stinger suits ourselves.

Cairns reef day tour operators take precautions to protect their guests from the effects of Cairn’s jellyfish. Briefings are provided on the boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef, giving you all the information you need to be informed. Most tour operators offer snorkelers stinger suits for protection. Stinger Suits are available in child to adult sizes.

Drop into All Cairns Tours at Cairns Beaches Tourist Information Centre located at 8 Rutherford Street, Yorkeys Knob, Cairns where you will see our large range of stinger suits for hire or purchase. Another option for Stinger Suit when going to the Reef is to book your reef trip through our Cairns Beaches Tourist Information Centre (www.allcairnstours.com.au) where all of the Reef trips we book for you we can include the option of a complementary stinger suit hire. When booked through All Cairns Tours, we cover the cost of stinger suit hire for you meaning your trip to the reef costs you less and is safer.

Should I wear a stinger suit when snorkeling in Cairns?

Should I wear a stinger suit when snorkeling in Cairns, that’s a question we are often asked here at The Information Centre and the answer is a big Yes.

In stinger season it is critical that you wear a stinger suit. A jellyfish sting can make you very sick, send you to hospital or potentially kill you.

There are a lot of very important reasons for using a stinger suit:

· For an added bonus, stinger suits also protect you against the harsh tropical sun. This is especially important when snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef as sunburn on your neck, back and the back of your legs can be a painful reality. By wearing a stinger suit and not using sunscreen, you are helping the coral reefs.

· If you are wearing a brightly coloured stinger suit whilst snorkeling off the back of a boat, it also makes it very easy for the tour operators to spot you and send help if you’ve swum too far away.

· They are a lot easier to get on than a wetsuit!

These ultra lightweight lycra suits are made from breathable fabric that doesn’t absorb water. They basically provide a layer of second skin, which is not as easily recognizable to jellyfish.

Unfortunately, jellyfish are very hard to see under water so a stinger suit covering most of your body is a very safe and wise choice, even if you do look less photogenic.

What sizes do the stinger suits on the Cairns Reef trips come in?

At the Cairns Beaches Information Centre, we hire stinger suits to fit most sizes. We also book reef trips with stinger suits included for free, we can usually book you a stinger suit to fit your body size from very small to very large and most sizes in between.

What is the largest stinger suits available in Cairns?

The largest stinger suits in Cairns are usually up to XXX if you have a particular need just contact us on 07 4055 7158

We know all of the Cairns dive and snorkel boats, if you are looking for a very large stinger suit just call us on 07 4055 7158 and we can match you with XXL and XXXL stinger suits.

When is stinger season in Cairns?

Stinger season in Cairns varies every year. So always check with us first, before planning your snorkel or diving trip. Usually late October to June is considered stinger season in Cairns and North Queensland (Even further south than The Whitsundays), however each year the season can start earlier and finish later. You can’t rely on the Cairns stinger season fitting exactly to these dates and you should always make your own enquiries as this information is only a guide and should not be fully relied on.

Where to buy a stinger suit in Queensland?

Cairns Beaches Tourist Information Centre also sells brand new stinger suits. These are high quality lycra suits and are full body suits with hood and mitts. We stock all sizes of stinger suits from small, medium, large and extra large. We also stock the largest stinger suits including 2XL  and 3XL. You are welcome to try on the stinger suits to make sure it fits you well. Don’t live in Cairns? not a problem we can post you a stinger suit any where in Australia. Feel free to call us on 07 4055 7158 to discuss your stinger suit needs.

Stinger Prevention on Cairns Beaches

· Always swim at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags.

· Look for and obey safety signs and check the lifesavers’ report.

· Don’t enter the water when beaches are closed.

· Ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for help and advice if you need it.

· Don’t touch marine stingers washed up on the beach, they can still sting you.

· Do not interfere with stinger-resistant enclosures (nets), or sit on floating pontoons In tropical waters it is also recommended that you take these additional measures.

· Swim in the stinger nets where provided.

· It is recommended that a full-body lycra suit, or equivalent, be worn to provide a good measure of protection against marine stings, particularly during the stinger season, which generally runs from late October to June.

· Enter the water slowly – this gives marine stingers time to move away.

· Don’t swim when beaches are closed, they are usually closed because of high stinger numbers.

Symptoms of Irukandji stings may take 20-40 minutes to develop. At last count, there were approximately 20 such cairns jellyfish nets in the waters across North Queensland. The nets consist of a fine and extremely strong, a floating “boom” which visually marks the perimeter for swimmers and takes the net’s protection to the water surface, and the net itself, which is weighted down so as to sit on the ocean floor.

The actual stinger net is a 25mm square mesh. It does not inhibit the water/tidal flow but does serve to ‘keep out’ the larger box jellyfish from the enclosure. Please note: Smaller box jellyfish can still pass through the nets, which are also patrolled by surf lifesavers, so precaution and protection should be taken including wearing a stinger suit.

For more detailed information on marine stingers or for booking tours with stinger suits, just contact us at All Cairns Tours or drop into us at the Cairns Beaches Tourist Information Centre. Phone 07 4055 7158 or email info@allcairnstours.com.au.