snorkelgeek:
We are looking at traveling to Roatan in April/May. We have heard the horror stories about both these critters. We have also heard that the Sand Fleas are worse in April than May because of the winds that come up in May. But we've heard that sea lice season is in May/June. Does it really matter +/- a couple of weeks, when we go? Would it be better to go in April and try to lessen the sand flea problem? Would it make THAT much of a difference? Does anyone know really when sea lice are a problem?
It is looking like we might be staying at Lost Paradise. We have contacted them and them seem incredibly helpful. Our other option was at West Bay, but many people seem to be steering us clear of WB and we have heard sand fleas are worse in WB as well. As well, we were concerned that we might have to go into West End lots just to sample different foods, so may as well be there anyway?
Any thoughts on the sand flea/sea lice situation would be greatly appreciated.
Brenda
Hopefully, these will prove useful:
A. The below is an edited version from my "Ask RSD" column article on the topic in "Rodale's Scuba Diving" magazine:
"A common form of skin disorder after diving is Sea Bather's Eruption, or SBE. Often mistakenly attributed to "sea lice," which are parasites of fish, SBE is primarily caused by the larval form of thimble jellyfish, very small creatures which float near the surface. Found in Florida, Mexico and the wider Caribbean, they are most numerous from March to August, with early April to early June being peak season.
The main feature of SBE is raised and itchy red welts/blotches which appear 4 to 24 hours after swimming or diving. The larvae tend to attach to swim wear, dive suits and hair, causing the skin under covered areas of the body and around the back of the neck to be most affected. Depending on exposure and individual sensitivity, there may be fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, generalized weakness or chills.
Prevention of stings is the best way to combat SBE. You should: (1) Ask resorts and dive shops if they are aware of heavy infestation; (2) Wear a snug fitting full body protective suit which fits tightly at the neck, wrist and ankle. Swim suits and T-shirts are not recommended; (3) Apply a thin layer of SafeSea (*see below), sun protectant, baby oil or petroleum jelly to the skin; (4) When surfacing, vigorously purge your second stage above your head just before breaking the water; (5) Perform your safety stop at 15-20' as the larvae tend to congregate above this; (6) If on a night dive, turn your light off at the safety stop and keep it off, and: (7) Remove wet garments immediately and rinse yourself in salt water, then wash yourself thoroughly in fresh. Do not rinse off with any items on.
If you do get stung: (1) Immediately apply a mixture of 1/2 isopropyl alcohol and 1/2 vinegar to affected skin areas, or whatever is on the boat for such stings. Repeat regularly for up to 60 minutes. Or, put on a thin paste of meat tenderizer and allow it to dry. Wash it off within ~20 minutes. In place of meat tenderizer, some find it more soothing to rub the area with papaya if it is readily available. (2) Bathing in or applying colloidal oatmeal, which can be purchased at the pharmacy or grocery store, may afford additional relief. Follow these actions with the topical application of hydrocortisone cream/lotion, twice a day. If you do not have or cannot use hydrocortisone, Calamine lotion with menthol can be applied; (3) Given that there are no contraindications, take an oral antihistamine (nonsedating type if you are going to continue diving) if the allergic reaction continues; and (4) Wash all garments well in warm, soapy water and let dry completely before wearing again.
Remember that if you have a severe allergic reaction, or don't get substantial resolution from self treatment, or the eruption seems to be getting worse or infected, you should seek medical attention in a timely manner."
*BTW, this article that I wrote for Undercurrent (
http://www.undercurrent.org/) discusses SafeSea in some detail:
http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/articles/Jellies200309.shtml
B. Sand fleas, aka no see ums:
Here's an updated edited version of my "Ask RSD" article on the topic in "Rodale's Scuba Diving."
"Sand fleas & mosquitoes can be a real bother, not to mention that they are sources of some serious tropical diseases.
The danger & bother of insects can be substantially reduced by these precautions: (1) Wear long sleeves and pants, avoiding dark or bright colors, especially at dawn and dusk. Protective clothing such as the "Buzz Off" brand can be useful. As an extra precaution, you may treat clothing with permethrin (As in the easy to use Sawyer Products
http://www.permethrin-repellent.com ); (2) Try to stay indoors at dawn and dusk when many flying insects are most active, and avoid sandy areas as much as possible at any time of day, especially when there is no breeze. When making reservations, make sure the resort has screened windows; (3) Wear insect repellent. The best protection against these and other insects is full strength DEET. Some divers like things such as Avon's Skin-So-Soft & Cactus Juice, less toxic products than DEET, by the science is solidly behind DEET for lasting effectiveness. Most DEET containing repellents are the 15-30% range of concentration. The testing of various strengths of DEET has shown that after about 30% little additional effectiveness is to be had by upping the strength, and even less after about 50%. As such, there is simply no point in exposing oneself to more potent brews. UltraThon at 32%
http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/ultrathon appears to be a good product. Used as directed over relatively brief periods of time, say a week, DEET has been shown to pose no significant risk when applied to exposed skin. If you wear lightweight, loose fitting clothes, it generally is safe to use DEET underneath. Doing so with heavy, snug fitting clothes can result in dermatological problems & worse. Be aware that DEET can dissolve synthetics like plastics, rayon & nylon, so it's best to wear natural fibers & keep it off of your gear; (4) Avoid scented toiletries and perfumes; (5) Upon arrival, treat your room with a bug bomb such as Shelltox or Fish (stay outside while this is being done). Touch up with spray after that as needed.
Precautions such as these can go a long way toward insuring your comfort, although they of course don't guarantee that you will not get bitten. It is therefore wise to take along whatever medications you have found helpful in treating bites, such as Calamine lotion/cream, hydrocortisone lotion/cream and nonsedating oral antihistamines. A number of outdoorspeople swear by AfterBite (
http://www.tendercorp.com/afterbite.html) applied as soon as possible."
Remember that if you have a severe allergic reaction, don't get substantial resolution from self treatment, or the eruption seems to be getting worse or infected, you should seek medical attention in a timely manner."
Go and have fun.
Best regards.
DocVikingo