Nasty Fire Coral Injury

[cowboyneal]

I'm curious CowboyNeal - what were you doing when you accidentally touched the fire coral?

I didn't accidentally touch it: it actually reached out and attacked me...uh-huh...that is somewhat the truth...the Millepora was on a fan, which was to my left as I set up taking a picture of a splendid toad in a crevice in a little current. The current pushed the fan over and it fell on top of my hand where the Millepora hit me along the left side of my hand up over the top of my pinky...had I had my usual gloves on, it would have resulted in nothing...anyway, it looks like it may be getting a little better...

 

[divekim]

Neal, May I ask if the welts have gone yet? I also was attached by something frilly at the end of some coral. Looked more like tiny feathery tentacles to me, but it has left quite a rashy looking welt over a good portion of the back of my hand. Has been this way for about 10 days now.

Kim

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Kim,

Sounds like you were nailed by a stinging hydroid of some sort. A number of them are feathery in appearance and one is even called a feathery hydroid http://www.planula.com.au/dive/uwphoto2005/large/hydroid.html.

What have you done to treat the rash and how has it responded?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[divekim]

I've done nothing to treat it. Happened on the first boat dive that day and it really didn't get all welty and itchy for a couple days. It seemed to get bigger and worse. Right now it is not as itchy as it was but the welt is still there but very slowly getting lighter. That is it all right, exactly what it looked like. Hydroid!!

 

[scubaaaronh]

Try finding this product at one of the shops your near:
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/AQUW...l&AdvSrchSortField=Relevance&SortDesc=0&Hit=1

I got into fire coral in bonaire exiting a site. My wife triped in the surge and when i tried to help her up i was knocked down and hit my forarm into it. Instant break out. I asked the dive master at the shop about it and told him the site and he said it was probably fire coral. The sold me the stuff and after three uses over a couple day was cleared up. It is a sticky jell with sand in it to rough the skin and has menthol in it which gives an immediate cooling effect. The DM said to really rub it in good and then rinse away lightly. Good luck with it.