DIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY

Watch Out for these Guys

Marine animals almost never attack divers, but defensive action may occur if they feel threatened. Following are some of the potentially dangerous creatures most commonly found in Fiji.

Stonefish, as well as scorpion fish and lionfish, inject venom through dorsal spines that can penetrate booties, wetsuits and gloves. To avoid injury, simply steer clear of these docile creatures. Soak the wound in non-scalding hot vinegar or water until the pain subsides. Administer pain medication if necessary. Allergic victims who experience more serious problems such as convulsions or cardio respiratory failure should be transported to a hospital immediately.

Distinguished by their long, thick, snake-like bodies tapered heads, moray eels come in a variety of colors and patterns. Don’t feed them or put your hand in a dark hole – eels have the unfortunate combination of sharp teeth and poor eyesight and will bite if they feel threatened. If you’re bitten, don’t try to pull your hand away suddenly – the teeth slant backwards and are extraordinarily sharp. Let the eel release your hand and then surface slowly. Treat with antiseptics, anti-tetanus and antibiotics.

Do not touch or pick up cone shells. These deliver a venomous sting that will cause numbness and can be followed by muscular paralysis or even respiratory paralysis and heart failure. Immobilize the victim, apply a pressure bandage, be prepared to use CPR, and seek urgent medical aid.

This large sea star may have up to 23 arms, although 13 to 18 are more commonly observed. Body coloration can be blue, green or grayish with the spines tinted red or orange. The spines are venomous and can deliver a painful sting even if the animal has been dead for two or three days. Also beware the toxic pedicellariae (pincers) between the spines, which can also cause severe pain upon contact. To treat stings, remove any loose spines, soak stung area in non-scalding hot vinegar or water for 30 to 90 minutes and seek medical aid. Neglected wounds may produce serious injury. If you’ve been stung before, your reaction to another sting may be worse than the first.

Jellyfish sting by releasing nematocysts, stinging cells contained in their trailing tentacles. Stings are often just irritating, not painful, but should be treated immediately with vinegar. As a rule, the longer the jellyfish tentacles, the more painful the sting. A far greater threat is the Portuguese man-o-war, a distant cousin of the jellyfish that tends to float at the surface and has very long trailing tentacles. Sting symptoms range from a mild itch to intense pain, blistering, skin discoloration, shock, breathing difficulties and even unconsciousness. Remove the tentacles, preferably with tweezers, though anything but bare hands will do. Apply a decontaminant such as vinegar or diluted ammonia and seek immediate medical aid. Allergic reactions can be severe and life-threatening. Luckily, these creatures are only occasionally encountered.

Sea Urchin

There are a variety of sea urchins in Fiji. The type divers should especially avoid is the venomous spiny urchin. These are generally black and white or all black and have very long, brittle spines. The spines are the urchin’s most dangerous weapon, easily able to penetrate neoprene wetsuits, booties and gloves. Puncture wounds immediately cause throbbing pain. Since the spines may break off in the flesh, the wound should be monitored for infection. Treat minor punctures by soaking the wound in non-scalding hot water until the pain subsides. More serious injuries require medical attention.