moray eel bite

[ssbrix]

I got to close to the morays hiding spot and it hit me like a snake. I only had a small V shaped cut on my index finger. It did bleed quite a bit at first and I pressed on it to cause more bleeding to flush it out. On the boat it was flushed with fresh water. I was not stressed by it and working my gear keeping track of my air etcetera was not affected. Getting topside wouldn't have sped up medical treatment because dive buddies were dropped off in pairs a distance apart. arriving at dock I went to emergency room got stitched and antibiotic shot. I can't locate my gopro pics right now. should have found them before I posted.

 

[TSandM]

You certainly had the wound immersed in a decidedly non-sterile environment. Whether the additional time in the water made a difference in the infection risk or not would be hard to tell, since the wound is contaminated from the moment of its creation. Certainly, such a small wound as you describe has no danger of excessive blood loss or shock.

 

[chrpai]

I got to close to the morays hiding spot and it hit me like a snake. I only had a small V shaped cut on my index finger. It did bleed quite a bit at first and I pressed on it to cause more bleeding to flush it out. On the boat it was flushed with fresh water. I was not stressed by it and working my gear keeping track of my air etcetera was not affected. Getting topside wouldn't have sped up medical treatment because dive buddies were dropped off in pairs a distance apart. arriving at dock I went to emergency room got stitched and antibiotic shot. I can't locate my gopro pics right now. should have found them before I posted.

Seems to me that you are only seeking validation for your decision.

 

[flots am]

On a boat drift dive at Pompano beach Florida I was bitten by a green moray across my hand.

So . . .

Where was your hand and what was it doing when the viscous eel attacked it?

flots

 

[SailNaked]

Flesh eating bacteria, other bacteria, shark, other moray eels, blood does not clot underwater, can not see blood well underwater, no I would not say you were stupid, and i would never continue a dive with any kind of cut let alone one that required 7 stiches.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Keep a close eye out for signs of infection: redness, swelling, warmth, increasing pain, purulent drainage, fever. Were you given a prescription for antibiotics in addition to the injection you received?

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Abdullah]

Leave your gear all over the reef, molest animal life with your spear and generally scream like a girl. Sigh...

It's not molesting if it leads to a fish fry.

 

[chrpai]

It's not molesting if it leads to a fish fry.

Agreed, but I didn't see it going in that direction.

 

[DandyDon]

I got to close to the morays hiding spot and it hit me like a snake. I only had a small V shaped cut on my index finger. It did bleed quite a bit at first and I pressed on it to cause more bleeding to flush it out. On the boat it was flushed with fresh water. I was not stressed by it and working my gear keeping track of my air etcetera was not affected. Getting topside wouldn't have sped up medical treatment because dive buddies were dropped off in pairs a distance apart. arriving at dock I went to emergency room got stitched and antibiotic shot. I can't locate my gopro pics right now. should have found them before I posted.

Sounds like just an unfortunate accident from your description. Other divers before you may have fed the critter, who knows - things happen sometimes. Also sounds like you handled it well so far. If it gets worse, get to ER as some marine bacteria infections are fast & deadly.

Since you don't post here often, let me point out that these two replies are from very respected physicians here...

You certainly had the wound immersed in a decidedly non-sterile environment. Whether the additional time in the water made a difference in the infection risk or not would be hard to tell, since the wound is contaminated from the moment of its creation. Certainly, such a small wound as you describe has no danger of excessive blood loss or shock.

Keep a close eye out for signs of infection: redness, swelling, warmth, increasing pain, purulent drainage, fever. Were you given a prescription for antibiotics in addition to the injection you received?

Best regards,
DDM

 

[EastEndDiver]

I will chime in here ......about 2-3 years ago I was "attacked" by a black spotted moray in Cayman it shredded my left forefinger we were on our second dive and had a "depth" obligation so surfacing immediately was not possible,After I realized what happened,I was taking a photo of an Arrow crab and felt this terrible sting in my left hand at first I thought it was a Sea Wasp that stung me looking at my left hand all I saw was green "stuff" pulsating from it (Blood) took a few seconds to realize what was going on.Seems my buddy saw it happen and the eel was about 2-3 feet away in a coral hole and shot out at me no idea why.Well my first reaction was to clamp the wound closed which I did with my other hand,while carrying a housed SLR with twin strobes,and every so often I would let it bleed to try to clear out the wound.
Took about 15 minutes to get out of the water when I did I used tape to close the wound,don't laugh that's all that was available, when I returned to my condo I emailed DAN and was told that what I did and was told it the best thing I could have done under the circumstances.DAN also told me to see a doctor and gave me a list of antibiotics that he should prescribe.I was going home in 2 days so waited till I returned home to my Doctor,who happens to be DAN certified,he prescribed the antibiotics and it took 2 courses over a months time for the infection to leave.

Stuff happens .

I wrote about this in more detail previously but don't have time to dig up the old post.