Picaradin safe for reef?

[cactus bum]

Howdy folks, I am told DEET is a no-no for coral reefs because it harms the coral polyps. I am coming to Honduras for 3 months and will spend lots of that time snorkeling and diving. I need to know the following:
1. Is DEET unsafe for the reef?
2. Is Picaridin unsafe for the reef?
3. Is Lemon Eucalyptus, the highly acclaimed natural repellent, unsafe for the reef?
4. On Roatan and Utilla are insect repellents available with DEET, or Picaridin, or Lemon Eucalyptus? Is the price terribly steep?
5. Does anyone have experience with Lemon Eucalyptus repellents? The US CDC says this stuff works as well as DEET, but lasts a little less long. Comments?
6. I have read the threads and wonder if anyone has experience with sand flies and Picaridin or Lemon Eucalyptus.

Thanks in advance to all who respond. Happy diving

 

[RTBDiver]

Howdy folks, I am told DEET is a no-no for coral reefs because it harms the coral polyps. I am coming to Honduras for 3 months and will spend lots of that time snorkeling and diving. I need to know the following:
1. Is DEET unsafe for the reef? There have NEVER Been any studies to suggest people using deet as a bug repellant is bad for the reef 2. Is Picaridin unsafe for the reef? Who knows?? There have not been studies with Picaridan either BUT in other tests, Deet has been listed as mildly toxic and picaridan as moderately toxic, You make your own choice here 3. Is Lemon Eucalyptus, the highly acclaimed natural repellent, unsafe for the reef? Who knows but is it approved as a repellent in places with Malaria and denge? \
4. On Roatan and Utilla are insect repellents available with DEET, or Picaridin, or Lemon Eucalyptus? Is the price terribly steep? I buy it in the US ay less than half what it cosys on Roatan 5. Does anyone have experience with Lemon Eucalyptus repellents? The US CDC says this stuff works as well as DEET, but lasts a little less long. Comments? Most working for the US Cdc have likely never been to the bay Islands6. I have read the threads and wonder if anyone has experience with sand flies and Picaridin or Lemon Eucalyptus.

Thanks in advance to all who respond. Happy diving

Hope this helps at least a little

 

[Captain Morgan's]

Hi,
Haven't seen or heard of any tests done on the effects of DEET on reefs secifically. I personally don't like it and will do anything to avoid spraying it directly in my skin (in the jungle i spray it on my clothes) and this is why (thanks Wiki!):

DEET has been found to inhibit the activity of a central nervous system enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, in both insects and mammals.^[19] This enzyme is involved in the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, thus playing a role in the function of the neurons which control muscles. Because of this property, many insecticides are used to block acetylcholinesterase, which leads to an excessive accumulation of acetylcholine at the synaptic cleft, causing neuromuscular paralysis and death by asphyxiation.^[20] (I know people who have suffered from DEET poisoning)

And.....
Though DEET is not expected to bioaccumulate, it has been found to have a slight toxicity for coldwater fish such as the rainbow trout^[22] and the tilapia,^[23] and it has also been shown to be toxic for some species of freshwater zooplankton.^[24] DEET has been detected at low concentrations in waterbodies as a result of production and use, such as in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, where a 1991 study detected levels varying from 5 to 201 ng/L.<sup>[25]

All that being what it is, there is no reason you should really have to worry about your posted concern because during the day the mossies aren't really a problem, and while you are out on the boat diving or snorkeling there will be no bugs. You don't need to put repellent on the in morning before you go out in the water, and if you shower and wash off what you applied in the PM (if you decide it is necessary for repellent, it's not that bad right now) there will be nothing to worry about.

There is a repellent available here in Utila called Blue Ocean Insect Repellent. It is environmentally friendly, and I wish I had a bottle here to list the ingredients, but we're sold out, it works well for the mossies. It doesn't work so well against the noseeums, but they're a bother only really around sunset and sunrise. It is reasonably priced.

Happy travels!</sup>

 

[RTBDiver]

And.....
Though DEET is not expected to bioaccumulate, it has been found to have a slight toxicity for coldwater fish such as the rainbow trout^[22] and the tilapia,^[23] and it has also been shown to be toxic for some species of freshwater zooplankton.^[24] DEET has been detected at low concentrations in waterbodies as a result of production and use, such as in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, where a 1991 study detected levels varying from 5 to 201 ng/L.^[25]

^{And lets not forget, Those tests showing DEET Harmfull to juvenile freshwater fish required amounts equal to 47 gallons of PURE DEET, Not off, not deep woods but 47 gallons of 100% DEET Added to an area the size. of one olymic size pool. I bet local soap or bleach would have similar effects
Let us also remember that DEET, by far has been the most tested and is still the most recommended product for the prevention of bug bites in areas or malaria and Dengue, And last but not least DEET, when used as labeled is THE ONLY preventative approved by the cdc for use on children as young as 2 months old.}

 

[pitdvr]

We are currently in Utila and the no-see-ums are terrible. The 4 of us are still having significant trouble with them after 10 days. We had been using DEET and have switched to Blue Ocean, an organic and biodegradable product sold here. It is $10 for 8oz. We think it is working better than DEET and won't hurt the reef.
Hope this helps. It is great here except for the no-see-ums
Pitdvr

 

[pitdvr]

Just came back from the local pharmacy. It is the mosquitoe that is so troublsome. They gave me anti-histamine tablets and hydrocortisone cream. The no-see-ums are also here of course but not they don't cause itchy raised bumps. That Ocean Blue product is specfically for no-see-ums and the DEET is for mosquitoes. I have not seen a mosquitoe, as I know them, here and I am from Minnesota where they jokenly call it our state bird. I must have 100 bites! Better to be prepared

 

[RTBDiver]

Just came back from the local pharmacy. It is the mosquitoe that is so troublsome. They gave me anti-histamine tablets and hydrocortisone cream. The no-see-ums are also here of course but not they don't cause itchy raised bumps. That Ocean Blue product is specfically for no-see-ums and the DEET is for mosquitoes. I have not seen a mosquitoe, as I know them, here and I am from Minnesota where they jokenly call it our state bird. I must have 100 bites! Better to be prepared

What a moronic post, Anyone even slightly familiar with the Bay Islands and or no see-ums, Sand Flies knows that some people get a rash , some get raised welts with a white dot in the middle, some end up with scare's, Either way, There is NO REASON, to be using a skin smoothing product such as skin so soft or this ocean stuff, Along with the Sand Flies which are basically harmless except for the itch and rash, there is also Malaria and Denue fever so youmay want to stick with something that has actually been tested, approved and recommended by health agencies. Besides, None of these have ever been shown to cause any environmental damage anyway

 

[pitdvr]

rtb
I did not react to sand flies at all when I was in roatan 2 years ago but thank you for diagnosing my current problem without seeing it.
Note to the moderators-this kind of personal attack is exactly why I rarely post here. It is a forum for the "know it alls"

 

[RTBDiver]

Dude, you talk about itchy bumps, many get that from sand flies, you say you have not seen mosquitoes?? they should be obvious if they are your problem, we all know what a mosquito looks like, how much have you been partying? ?

Anyway,
what I find moronic is not using a repellant like deet that is most proven and tested to prevent biting bugs and wastin time with some snake oil iguana sperm special concoction

 

[Doc]

This thread is one year old and is in the wrong forum to start with.

... We think it is working better than DEET and won't hurt the reef....

There has never been any sort of scientific proof in regards to this fear- what is so far just an urban myth. (see post #2)

Just came back from the local pharmacy. They gave me anti-histamine tablets and hydrocortisone cream. The no-see-ums are also here of course but not they don't cause itchy raised bumps.

I have the same close-up view as RTBDiver, but what you are saying screams: You are quite likely suffering from sand flea bites, not at all what you think being mosquitos. Just my internet diagnosis.

People can variously react horribly to the sand fly bites, and then on another trip~ not so much, or at all.

Whatever the cause: To relieve the insane itching, just dab some Nasonex on the bumps with a q-tip. Instant relief.

Here it is in the cheaper, cream formulation:

There is so much information here on SB in regards to the Bugs of the Bay Islands , anybody who gets bitten-up and suffers ... Well, that could make almost any local roll their eyes. You're prolly seeing a bit of that, first hand.

...Note to the moderators-this kind of personal attack is exactly why I rarely post here. It is a forum for the "know it alls"

In the spirit of an internet forum, you yourself should post more trip reports... after asking for info beforehand. More information is good, then we can all benefit and become know-it-alls

Don't let RTBDiver get to you. He's a local and he's seen a lot of tourists with itchy bumps... the ones who don't listen.