What are those red things in the water?

[scooterbug44]

What are those weird red things in the water? Best description I can come up with is that they look like a fruit roll up or a piece of balloon or skin. Mostly smooth w/ irregular flat shape and minimal markings. Not very slimy and didn't sting.

Someone told me they were algae, but since they had to think on what a "purple" flag meant I wanted a second opinion!

 

[ckhagen]

I haven't seen them yet, but I have heard someone mention it and the first thing that came to mind was sea slugs... Is it similar to those? Now I'm really curious.

 

[scooterbug44]

They are completely flat (like thick piece of paper) and don't seem very complex - hence the comparison to a fruit roll up or piece of skin.

One I examined was about the size of an adults hand (inc. fingers) and was almost completely smooth w/ only one or 2 lines on it.

 

[30A Skunkape]

I was wondering this too. Last night I tried to figure it out. Here is a link to what I think might identify the stuff. Scroll to the bottom.
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03mex/logs/sept28/sept28.html

 

[scooterbug44]

Thanks! Seems to be "unknown species of Halymenia" red algae.

Never saw anything like that before and wasn't sure why the purple was up, so I erred on the side of caution and cut my afternoon swim short!

 

[30A Skunkape]

Thanks! Seems to be "unknown species of Halymenia" red algae.

Never saw anything like that before and wasn't sure why the purple was up, so I erred on the side of caution and cut my afternoon swim short!

I was playing with it yesterday. No danger! Smiling Joe, do you have a recipe?

 

[ckhagen]

They are completely flat (like thick piece of paper) and don't seem very complex - hence the comparison to a fruit roll up or piece of skin.

One I examined was about the size of an adults hand (inc. fingers) and was almost completely smooth w/ only one or 2 lines on it.

Ah, yeah, not sea slugs then. By flat, I thought you were referring to the texture. Strange.

 

[ASH]

There are lots of sea slugs as well. Purple ink in the sand. I haven't figured out what they seem to be carrying on their backs. Eggs maybe.

 

[Matt J]

There are lots of sea slugs as well. Purple ink in the sand. I haven't figured out what they seem to be carrying on their backs. Eggs maybe.

IIRC that's not ink. ;-)