Roatan in 3 weeks - bug spray recommendations?

[mtheiss]

Sorry to clog a scuba message board about a non-scuba question but we will be in Roatan in three weeks and my wife has really bad reactions to bug bites. I have heard they are pretty bad there and we'll deal with it but wanted to see if anyone has recommendations for good anti bug products as well as itch creams. I want to come prepared! Personally I find the best solution to just be in the water all the time.

 

[Thiad]

I was told Cactus Juice is the stuff to try. Not sure or not if it's as good as everyone claims (I'm going in June), but I ordered early and yep, it took 38 days to arrive.

Cactus Juice: Prickly Pear Skin Care for Naturally Healthy Skin

 

[dry heat diver]

Cactus Juice is sometimes good and it is environmentally friendly. Order it on line or you can usually buy it down there. It's also a good idea to take something with you that has a fairly high DEET concentration in case the Cactus Juice isn't strong enough. Stay out of the hammocks and wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks early morning and around dusk.

 

[lsorenson]

We had the Cactus Juice with us and had no issues... We also slept over water so I am sure that was a big help as well...!

lee

 

[Krazyklaws]

Hi there - I have the same problem, and react very badly to insect bites. I've tried almost everything from 'Jungle formula' repellants to eating yeast extract.

Since I've been using this, I haven't been bitten once:-
Repel 100 Deet Insect Repellent - 120ml: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Beauty

Be careful of it on plastics, it eats into the stuff. Oh, and it melts nail varnish!

It's nasty stuff - but given the choice between wearing this and all that fuss with paramedics I'll put up with it

 

[diversteve]

I did pretty good with Deep Woods Off (25% Deet) A friend brought the 100% drops but quit using it after a day or two as it made her mildly nauseated.

Except one night at dinner - they were under the tablecloths and I forgot to re-apply after showering. The sand flies/mosquitos were pretty bad just b4 sunset so that would be a good time to plan to be inside.

Stay off the beaches for any length of time also. Or sit on something with your feet off the ground.

My buddy brought a treated mosquito net. In my room I let the geckos handle it. Although I wasn't bitten at all while inside IIRC.

We were there 1st week of May also. It was a little humid and rainy a couple nights so that didn't help.

 

[Tool Belt]

We were there two weeks ago, spent two nights outside from 7-9, stayed off the beach, and was generally wet (24 dives). Only used 50%(?) OFF once and it really wasn't needed then. Probably extremely lucky but there were no bugs.

 

[DeputyDan]

One thing that I do is keep a bottle at the dive gear area and another at the room (Regardless of what you choose to use).
That way you can apply after the dive and when leaving the room.

 

[morecowbells]

When I visited Roatan in Jan. I used the 20% Picaridin based repellent produced by Cutter. During the evening I would also spray some lemon eucalyptus oil around my ankle area. Picaridin is recommended by both the CDC and World Health Organization for prevention of insect and mosquito bites in addition to malaria protection. Many of the Picaridin based products boast the odorless benefit versus DEET. Quite honestly, I thought it had a 'wet dog' sort of smell when first applied-but not as strong and irritating as the DEET. Both products can be ordered on Amazon.com. I left the island completely bite free.

 

[skyward]

We were on Roatan about 3 weeks ago at Anthony's key and had almost no problems with bug bites. I saw a couple of mosquitoes the whole week and had few problems with sand flies (fleas) even at the outdoor barbeque. We took Natrapel 20% picaridin but I don't think I even used it. I had only a few bites by the end of the week and mosquitoes usually love me.

We went to Deep Blue on Utila the week after and it was a completely different story. I didn't use the spray and had probably 100 bites on the bottom of my legs the first night. I used the Natrapel regularly after that and it worked very well.

I couldn't dive the second week because of a perforated ear drum on the last day on Roatan so I did a night snorkel one night and got hundreds of bites just getting in and out of the water.

Unfortunately we didn't take anything with us to relieve the itching but I wouldn't go back again without something.

Doug