12 replies to this topic

[damselfish]

So OK for the "protection" of the sea life I left my gloves on the boat in Cozumel. During the strong current drift dive the group stopped for a long time to see a nudibranch or something. In an effort to wait for everyone I went to the bottom and of course didn't have my "photo stick" either to stop myself. I caught myself on the bottom in a mostly sandy area. So I remember my hand stinging a little and thought I saw fire coral and then forgot about it.
It's been a week and a half and I still have several red marks on my hand that hurt a little but don't itch. It's not getting better because as a nurse i have to wash my hands frequently with strong soap which is aggravating it.

Anyway, so the sea life is protected but as a diver it is my "oath" gloves or no gloves NOT TO TOUCH, but what about ME??? That's not fair and I don't like that policy.

So when does this rash go away?


- D

[secretsea18]

So OK for the "protection" of the sea life I left my gloves on the boat in Cozumel. During the strong current drift dive the group stopped for a long time to see a nudibranch or something. In an effort to wait for everyone I went to the bottom and of course didn't have my "photo stick" either to stop myself. I caught myself on the bottom in a mostly sandy area. So I remember my hand stinging a little and thought I saw fire coral and then forgot about it.
It's been a week and a half and I still have several red marks on my hand that hurt a little but don't itch. It's not getting better because as a nurse i have to wash my hands frequently with strong soap which is aggravating it.

Anyway, so the sea life is protected but as a diver it is my "oath" gloves or no gloves NOT TO TOUCH, but what about ME??? That's not fair and I don't like that policy.

So when does this rash go away?


- D

Hydroids or coral stings usually last ~ 2-3 weeks on my hands. I, too, have to wash a 1000 times a day.

After the first day or two, it looks much worse than it feels.

[Hipshot]

You might try using Benedryl and Hydrocortisone, applied topically. The Benedryl brings down swelling, and the Hydrocortisone relieves the itching. It's worked for me in the past.

Belinda, you seem like the type of diver who wouldn't abuse the reefs with gloves. Perhaps you should consider wearing them, just for unusual circumstances like this one.

Rick



Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do. - Benjamin Spock

[WreckWench]

Gloves were not allowed that is why she was not wearing them. Sadly Marine Parks have to require divers not wear gloves to protect the corals. If you are not wearing gloves you will be less likely to touch anything for fear that you will touch fire coral or something else that stings. Sadly I have watched too many people that don't normally touch anything...touch if they have gloves on. And when they touch the coral...they kill it!

I am sorry you got stung...the photo sticks do help in that situation where you are trying to hold your position in the sand. I too got a fire coral sting myself doing the same thing. It also helps if you can drop down behind some coral as it will protect you from the currents.

[Jerrymxz]

I also touched a hydroid or two while there trying to get close for the perfect picture. Like secretsea18 posted they'll go away. I just treat them like a souvenir I didn't have to pay for or declare to customs when I got back

[damselfish]

Well Jerry at least I had my version of the photo stick and was able to stop us while Stan fixed the screw on your tank. Don't know why I didn't have it when I got the fire coral sting.
Well the rash doesn't bother me, it burns when I was with germacide soap at work like 100 times a shift. Oh well.

Well it's the dive masters with the no gloves policy that I usually see touching!

- D

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Well it's the dive masters with the no gloves policy that I usually see touching!
- D

I agree with this one.....DM's that lead dives in many places are always poking into holes, harassing the fish, or trying to hang onto stuff to show everybody. Most divers will swim over to look, and never say a word to the DM, and will tip him/her. This is learned behavior on their part.....show the Americans the "cool stuff", and you get a tip.

The only way to make any difference is to talk to the DM's on your boat about it, and reducing their tip if they manhandle the sea life.

[WreckWench]

If you see DM's doing this on one of our trips please let me know. I am usually so far away from them that I do not see them. I will CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THEM...and you all know that to be true!

[moniray36]

If you see DM's doing this on one of our trips please let me know. I am usually so far away from them that I do not see them. I will CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THEM...and you all know that to be true!

On the night dive in Cozumel, one of the DMs was carrying around a large crab and then a lobster and holding them up in divers' faces, laughing. I said something after the dive but he laughed it off, so it doesn't seem to do any good. In Belize last year, the DMs grabbed every nurse shark and moray eel they could find in hopes of "entertaining" the divers. It's awful to see.

[dustbowl diver]

Damselfish-

When you are off the clock-have you tried soaking your hands in a bowl of vinegar? I got zapped a number of years ago and had an instructor share that tip with me. Just told the co-workers I had been canning all weekend!!!

[WreckWench]

If you see DM's doing this on one of our trips please let me know. I am usually so far away from them that I do not see them. I will CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THEM...and you all know that to be true!

On the night dive in Cozumel, one of the DMs was carrying around a large crab and then a lobster and holding them up in divers' faces, laughing. I said something after the dive but he laughed it off, so it doesn't seem to do any good. In Belize last year, the DMs grabbed every nurse shark and moray eel they could find in hopes of "entertaining" the divers. It's awful to see.

I am sorry that happened. Had I known I would have spoken to the DM's and they WOULD HAVE NOT LAUGHED IT OFF.

The DM's in Belize usually do handle the nursesharks and allow divers to do the same if they wish. The dive operator we use ASKS how the divers feel about it. We then discuss it and proceed accordingly.

I have accepted that some areas have forever been changed by man... aka Belize for one, Stingray City, Caymans for another and others will remain pristine as they should aka NC, Galapagos, etc.

[georoc01]

If you see DM's doing this on one of our trips please let me know. I am usually so far away from them that I do not see them. I will CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THEM...and you all know that to be true!

On the night dive in Cozumel, one of the DMs was carrying around a large crab and then a lobster and holding them up in divers' faces, laughing. I said something after the dive but he laughed it off, so it doesn't seem to do any good. In Belize last year, the DMs grabbed every nurse shark and moray eel they could find in hopes of "entertaining" the divers. It's awful to see.

I am sorry that happened. Had I known I would have spoken to the DM's and they WOULD HAVE NOT LAUGHED IT OFF.

The DM's in Belize usually do handle the nursesharks and allow divers to do the same if they wish. The dive operator we use ASKS how the divers feel about it. We then discuss it and proceed accordingly.

I have accepted that some areas have forever been changed by man... aka Belize for one, Stingray City, Caymans for another and others will remain pristine as they should aka NC, Galapagos, etc.

That was not one of the Del Mar Aquatics DMs, but someone from our group.

[Hipshot]

The DM's in Belize usually do handle the nursesharks and allow divers to do the same if they wish. The dive operator we use ASKS how the divers feel about it. We then discuss it and proceed accordingly.

It might be good to remember that more divers have been attacked by nurse sharks than by any other species of shark. The main reason for this is not that the nurse shark is aggressive, but occasionally they resent being poked, pulled, prodded, or otherwise disturbed.

Rick



Love is like a roller coaster: When it's good you don't want to get off, and when it isn't you can't wait to throw up.[/i]