Coral Scrapes

[santelmo]

i was snorkeling 2weeks ago and did not notice the stag horn/elk horn coral and accidentally scraped my 3 left fingers. i applied anti-bacterial ointment at home and after a week the wound healed. although the wounds are dry they seem to be swollen, red and very itchy. i went to a (doctor) dermatologist and she injected the seem to be red swollen scars w/ steroids and prescribed me w/ Clobetasol cream. it's been 2 days now and the scars are still itchy.

anyway, i got this article on the internet regarding coral injuries and i would just like to share it.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/me...q.asp?faqid=98

[Sarah]

I've had inflamed fingers for 10 days afer diving......but the diving was great!

[Scott K]

I've had inflamed fingers for 10 days afer diving......but the diving was great!

Three words;

Urine

Ammonia

Immediately

[Sarah]

But it takes overnight till I notice the slight swelling and redness in my fingers, and by then it is too late to pee on my hands! lol

[gangrel441]

Bit it takes overnight till I notice the slight swelling and redness in my fingers, and by then it is too late to pee on my hands! lol

But it's NEVER too late to....oh, nevermind....

[Zero]

Might seem weird but do it as a precationary anyway. Even weirder is that you should use someone elses as it doesnt pass any bugs straight back into you through the wound.

Matt

[acelockco]

Better solution is to keep the freggin hands of the coral. Think that the little damage you have to your hand and multiply that because what happens to the coral when you touch it is worse.

If you can't help it as many new divers claim, add a small squirt of air to your BC and move a few feet up off the coral. You will still be able to see everything and enjoy your dive, you won't get a rash and the coral will be there for the next diver to see.

So during your next dive, remember the pain you caused yourself and remember keep the freggin hands of the coral.

[littleleemur]

Better solution is to keep the freggin hands of the coral.

Sometimes when diving tropical you can get scrapes when doing your safety stop along the line in high current. Always bring your tropical gloves in your BC pocket for situations like this. We learnt the hard way

[acelockco]

I always have gloves, but that is to protect my hands from the ropes, dive ladders, ect, and NOT to protect me from Marine Life.

[PinayDiver]

Just to share: Apo Island, a dive site here in the Visayas, forbids the use of gloves. When I was there early this year, I was told the policy was enforced by locals because tourists (in the 70s-80s) liked sitting on the massive table corals, clowning around for a souvenir photo. So, in this case, the possibility of scrapes = hands off.