Sea Lice

[DocVikingo]

Here's a thimble jellyfish swarm photo by an acquaintance of mine --> ZOOM These of course are adults as the juvs, which cause the rash, are only about the size of a grain of ground pepper.

And here's what a diver can look like after a run-in with a swarm:

http://www1.broward.edu/~ssimpson/sealice scratches.jpg

Dermatitis Swimming Photo - Skin Disease Pictures (slides 19-24)

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[MMM]

The label on the first pic is"sea urchin sting". Not the same thing, no?

Here's a thimble jellyfish swarm photo by an acquiantance of mine --> ZOOM These of course are adults as the juvs, which cause the rash, are only about the size of a grain of ground pepper.

And here's what a diver can look like after a run-in with a swarm:

http://www.dermnet.com/dn2/allJPGThumb3/sea-urchin-sting-3.jpg

http://www1.broward.edu/~ssimpson/sealice scratches.jpg

Dermatitis Swimming Photo - Skin Disease Pictures (slides 19-24)

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[BettyfromToronto]

OMG
No one said anything about this in Cozumel when we go back in April. Is this really a serious issue there?

 

[MMM]

OMG
No one said anything about this in Cozumel when we go back in April. Is this really a serious issue there?

I doubt it is a HUGE problem or there would be a zillion posts about it. And while I don't know this with certainty, they probably vary from site to site and your DM will be checking out the surface before you begin your ascent. They will look like a smallish dark cloud so you don't ascend in the middle of them. They certainly will not blanket the ocean surface.

 

[cvchief]

It was really bad our first trip. Didn't stop us from frolicking in the water. Some people see to react more. I wouldn't get that excited. Of course this is sb where we like to get excited.

 

[DocVikingo]

The label on the first pic is"sea urchin sting". Not the same thing, no?

Right you are, MMM. I've deleted it.

Thanks,

DocVikingo

 

[FuzzyNutz]

Damn, yeah those hydroids SUCK! I grazed one with my arm last year and it itched for a week and left a raised red rash for months!

 

[Karibelle]

I doubt it is a HUGE problem or there would be a zillion posts about it. And while I don't know this with certainty, they probably vary from site to site and your DM will be checking out the surface before you begin your ascent. They will look like a smallish dark cloud so you don't ascend in the middle of them. They certainly will not blanket the ocean surface.

They do vary from site to site, and as they are on the surface, one strategy is to purge your alternate toward the surface after you've done your safety stop and clear an area in which you can then ascend if you're in an "infested area."

 

[robint]

Thimble jellies - I have never run into them, but I have been told that during periods when they are sighted, all DMs tell people on the boat to just purge their octo, which will make a clear path to surface in, then go up. They are only going to be in the the top 10' of water, so no problems otherwise during the dives. I have heard that some people react dramatically to them, others don't... so it may be that I have run into them at some point but didn't get a reaction.

I have had more encounters with jellies during a safety stop.... same thing, just blow them away from you!
Also... those little hydroid buggers suck. My husband accidentally brushed against one on a raging current dive once. He didn't even know what happened until he got back to the room and showered. Bang, the little things exploded in his hand, making a painful red rash. It would flair back up over and over for at least a month after we got home. Lesson learned!!!

Urchins are another bad guy in the water .... but they are mostly an issue when getting in and out of the water as during the daytime they hide under rocks, in cracks by stairs, etc.

And this thread is why I tell my non-diving friends that sharks are not the thing to worry about... its the little buggers that are going to bite you!!

robin

 

[FuzzyNutz]

Urchins are another bad guy in the water .... but they are mostly an issue when getting in and out of the water as during the daytime they hide under rocks, in cracks by stairs, etc.

robin

My head was almost always the first thing in the water on my shore dives when I went to Cozumel - to find where all the urchins were so I could plan a strategic route out! They were EVERYWHERE!! Definitely watch out for these!!