Spring tide treasure hunt full of wonder

The Umdloti spring tide treasure hunt attracted about 60 spirited children and adults to a sunny Umdloti south beach on Saturday, July 4.

Before the children headed for the shallow rock pools on a journey of discovery and wonder as the sea revealed its secrets in the low spring tide, Umdloti UIP’s Tracey Simkiss explained that the rocky shores were the harshest areas for sea creatures to live in. Those creatures were unique and specially adapted to survive the pounding waves and scorching sun.

Among the treasures that the ocean shared with the young explorers were hermit crabs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, anemones and sea hares, that look like huge hairy slugs.

The sea creatures were kept in a large sea water tank while Simkiss discussed the different animals with the children.

Simkiss and the children got a big surprise when the big sea cucumber she held during her talk suddenly spat out its gut!

“I have read about sea cucumbers spitting out their gut when under stress but I have never seen it happen before,” said Simkiss.

She said this behaviour was a defense mechanism against predators. The predators eat the gut and the sea cucumber gets away and grows a new gut (similar to how a lizard loses its tail when chased by a predator).

All the sea creatures were returned to the ocean unharmed after the “lecture”.

The UIP hosted the spring tide treasure hunt to draw awareness to their “safe, clean, green” mission, to bring the community together, creating awareness of conservation and to forge a strong relationship with the community they serve.