11/09/2025
Tidepooling is a great way to explore coastal life up close—but it’s also one of the few places where medicine, marine biology, and safety intersect in surprising ways.
This photo shows a typical intertidal rock teeming with life—barnacles, mussels, seaweed, and often hidden among them, creatures like sea stars, sea urchins, and anemones. While most are harmless, a few can pose risks to beachgoers:
• Sea urchins can puncture the skin with fragile spines, sometimes introducing venom and bacteria.
• Anemones and some starfish species (like the crown-of-thorns in warmer waters) contain mild toxins that may cause localized pain or skin irritation.
• Cuts from barnacles and mussels can lead to secondary infections, especially if untreated in a marine environment.
Wounds from marine organisms often require different care than typical injuries. Saltwater exposure, unusual pathogens, and envenomations mean a seemingly minor scrape could become more serious if not properly managed.
If you’re exploring coastal tidepools, wear water shoes, move carefully, and know what to look out for. And if you sustain a sting, puncture, or laceration that worsens or doesn’t heal, get it checked—especially if you’re immunocompromised or diabetic.
