VENOMOUS PERILS BENEATH WAVES

HORRIFIED holidaymakers in Ibiza are too spooked to take a plunge, after spotting snakes in the sea. But if that's not enough to put you off having a dip, there are plenty more surprisingly scary critters lurking in the depths. Here, JAMES MOORE reveals some little-known marine hazards...

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JELLY HELL-Y: Often in the waters off Australia, box jellyfish are the most venomous creatures in the seas - a sting can kill a human within minutes.

Their tentacles can be up to 10ft long and contain venom that attacks the heart and nervous system, leading to a cardiac arrest. They kill up to 100 people annually, while sharks only cause a handful of deaths.

CONE CRAZY: They're pretty, but picking up a cone snail could prove deadly. The creepy crustaceans have a special toxin-covered tooth that they use as a harpoon to kill prey. This is sharp enough to pierce a wetsuit. Some species found in the Indian and Pacific Ocean have enough in a single spike to prove fatal to humans. There's no anti-venom and they've been linked to at least 30 fatalities.