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Snorkeling
Swimmers and divers who are concerned about marine animal injuries can lessen their risk of an adverse encounter by showing respect for the undersea environment and knowing the damage that humans can do—and have done—to living marine organisms. Most divers are now aware of these issues and use personal diving techniques that respect the sea and its living creatures. “Look but don’t touch” is the most conservative and considerate approach.
If a marine animal injury occurs, identification of the animal responsible is helpful. Symptoms may not appear until hours after the contact, however, or you may not have seen or recognized the animal at the time of the injury. As a result, treatment must frequently be based on the presentation of the injury, and careful examination of the wound’s characteristics may indicate the most likely cause.
Avoiding contact with marine animals is key, which sounds simple, but it may be more difficult if you have poor buoyancy control or visibility or are in a confined area, experiencing currents or coping with other environmental limitations. The following tips can help you minimize the chance of a hazardous marine life encounter or simply one that might damage the environment: • Do not attempt to handle, tease, feed or annoy any marine animal. • Do not explore a crevice with your hand; a concealed animal might try to defend itself. • Strive to develop excellent buoyancy control, and remain aware of your surroundings. • Do not allow a current to force you against a fixed object; it may be covered with marine animals. • Wear protective clothing. • Research animals you may encounter and learn about their characteristics and habitats before beginning the dive.
Several publications cover in detail both the identification of marine life that can be hazardous to divers and the management of injuries that may follow
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sea snake (poisonous) crawling along the ocean shore encounters with such animals. For more information, see DAN.org/Health/ Hazardous-Marine-Life. The ability to recognize and identify animals commonly encountered at a chosen dive site will add to the pleasure of a dive and help divers avoid animals that could inflict harm. Some useful guides include the following:
• A Medical Guide to Hazardous Marine Life, 3rd ed. Auerbach PS. Best
Publishing, 1997. • Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine, 7th ed. Auerbach PS. Elsevier, 2017. • Dangerous Marine Creatures. Edmonds C. Best Publishing, 1995. • Marine Animal Injuries. Edmonds C. in Bove and Davis’ Diving Medicine, 4th ed. Bove AA, Davis J, eds. Saunders, 2004; pp. 287-318. • Medicine for the Outdoors, 6th ed. Auerbach PS. Saunders, 2015. • Pisces Guide to Venomous and Toxic Marine Life of the World.
Cunningham P, Goetz P. Pisces Books, 1996.
