myfuzzy Posted December 1, 2017 #1 Share Posted December 1, 2017 I don't know where else to ask, but to those who scuba or snorkle I was in Bonaire a month ago, swimming at Spice Beach. They have a "dock" of which to enter the water, which is of substantial depth using a ladder. I was hanging on to the railing above the water line, and a wave pushed the side of my thigh into the railing below the water line,which seemed to be wrapped in some kind of rope. Immediately my leg started to burn, and I left the water to find a red mark about an inch wide by 6 long, like a rope mark. In a few minutes there were a few bumps, but went away by the time we left the beach and I no longer gave it a thought. I did notice that it seemed like the top layer of my skin was gone,but I had no more redness or burning, I forgot about it. A couple of weeks after I got home, I had some itching, I looked and the whole mark now had a lot of bumps and the burning came back. Its now been a couple of more weeks with intermittent burning and redness. It is only annoying. I have gone online, and came up with something called fire coral. But doesn't give any further direction on treating,other than an antibiotic cream. Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQrobin Posted December 1, 2017 #2 Share Posted December 1, 2017 Have you looked at the DAN website? My DH had this happen to him several years ago, his hand brushed against one of those little feather looking hydroid whips on a reef and it immediately caused him pain. It went away, but as soon as he got in a hot shower later, it came back as a red rash across the back of his hand. Lasted several weeks, anytime it got hot water it would "fire" off again, like a burn. He finally had to stop taking hot showers and go to warm ones for over a month. It finally went away, I think it was 2 months from the event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfuzzy Posted December 1, 2017 Author #3 Share Posted December 1, 2017 Have you looked at the DAN website? My DH had this happen to him several years ago, his hand brushed against one of those little feather looking hydroid whips on a reef and it immediately caused him pain. It went away, but as soon as he got in a hot shower later, it came back as a red rash across the back of his hand. Lasted several weeks, anytime it got hot water it would "fire" off again, like a burn. He finally had to stop taking hot showers and go to warm ones for over a month. It finally went away, I think it was 2 months from the event. Yes,that is where I got my information. It seems that getting it wet has no bearing on the "burn" it just comes and goes.... At first I thought it might have been a kind of jellyfish....but didn't see anything I am just surprised that after it went away, it came back and now it looks like I might have it for a while Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omeinv Posted December 1, 2017 #4 Share Posted December 1, 2017 Definitely sounds like fire coral. Immediate first aid is flushing with vinegar and cool water. I rather doubt vinegar would speed the process of relief at this point, but it wouldn't hurt to try. An antihistamine, like Benadryl may help as well. Harris Denver, CO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinmike Posted December 2, 2017 #5 Share Posted December 2, 2017 I think fire coral too - the stuff is certainly on lines and ladders in Bonaire and is a hazard since you aren't supposed to be wearing gloves. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeputyDan Posted December 8, 2017 #6 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Fire coral is widespread on Bonaire. I agree with the others that it is probably the cause. We always wear wet suits and not because of the temperature - but because of all the nastys that you can brush up against! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted December 8, 2017 #7 Share Posted December 8, 2017 So sorry you encountered this. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfuzzy Posted December 11, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Thanks for your replies. I still have the mark on my leg, not so red now. After swimming at most islands in the Caribbean, I never gave any sea "critters" a thought. I just think it was because the dock that was built attracted this, and that's why this time I got a take home souvenir. Normally, its just a sandy beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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