Sea Lice

[brandiandbobby]

I've heard about these Sea Lice in Coz (baby jellies?) How prevalent are they and should I go ahead and buy the preventative stuff? Only 36 days left until Coz !

 

[ReefHound]

I dove from boat and shore all last week in shorts and tshirt and didn't see/feel them at all.

 

[brandiandbobby]

Oh good!

 

[DandyDon]

I wear a long jumpsuit just in case, of them and scrapes.

 

[Diver Kat]

Although they are supposedly more prevalent in the Spring, I've been stung at other times of the year as well. But then I'm super-sensitive to the darn things. Don's suggestion of a full skin isn't a bad one as it can protect from bites as well as an accidental brush against things like fire coral.

 

[mrsrobinson27]

Sea lice "season" is supposed to run from April through August, although I haven't felt them lately at all (which doesn't mean they are not there). In my experience, they are more vicious during night dives for some reason. I usually feel their stings around my mouth (may have something to do with the fact that I wear an 8-mil on the rest of my body). My friend reports the same - night attacks; luckily, he is not allergic to the stings, so he could afford to romantically name this phenomenon "kisses of the sea"... The usual set of remedies is helpful - vinegar, meat tenderizer, hydrocortisone. Also, I heard that Safe Sea lotion - Safe Sea stops jellyfish & sea lice stings! - is a good preventive measure, but have never tried it myself.

 

[kixy1]

I couldn't find my Safe Sea before I left so I can't give a report, but I did take a small bottle of the after sting gel they sell.
I was in Coz 6/25 - 7/3 and I wear a full suit. I got stung a number of times, so did others on the boat The good news was that the gel worked GREAT! We all were impressed.
It really cut the sting, and by the next day, if the marks weren't gone, they were just a red blotch with no swelling or stinging. I know one hit was a jelly, as I was trying hard to back away (unsuccessfully), the others (lip, wrist, hands and neck) I don't know...jelly, sealice, hydroid..? Whatever, the gel worked, I won't be traveling without it again.
I just don't recommend using it in your mask (don't ask..) LOL
It was kind of cool to see that the sting marks were green at depth and only came up red as we surfaced. I guess I never noticed that before!

 

[Prop Joe]

I'm allergic to hydroids and this is what works for me (also comes in stick and lotion forms):
Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel | Walgreens

Available all over at drug stores in the US. Good stuff for all things that might sting ya

 

[Diver Kat]

I'm allergic to hydroids and this is what works for me (also comes in stick and lotion forms):
Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel | Walgreens

Available all over at drug stores in the US. Good stuff for all things that might sting ya

This is what I use, and it works great. They also have a spray version.

 

[brandiandbobby]

OK thanks, maybe Ill just get some of that after sting Benedryl stuff. Are the stings painful at the time? It would be expensive for SeaSafe for 3 people for 7 days.