Scuba Diving: Barotrauma and Decompression Sickness Topic Guide

The blue-ringed octopus bite is a medical emergency. Blue-ringed octopus are not aggressive marine animals; however, when it bites it has a deadly venom. If you are bitten by a blue-ringed octopus it is a medical emergency. Symptoms include pain, bleeding, numbness, nausea, vomiting, changes in vision, and difficulty breathing. If medical care is not provided, the patient will likely go into respiratory failure, which leads to cardiac arrest and death.

Cone snail stings generally occur when an individual picks up a cone snail. Symptoms of a cone snail sting include: a burning sensation, a sharp stinging sensation, numbness, cyanosis, and possibly coma. Treatment of a cone snail sting includes pressure immobilization technique, immersion of the affected are in hot water, and prescription medication.

Marine coral is an exoskeleton secreted by many types of marine polyps. Some coral formations are sharp and rigid and can cause an accidental injury when coming in contact with the coral. Symptoms of a coral cut include swollen, inflamed, red, and tender skin. Some coral cuts may become infected and will need medical care.

Decompression illness is a serious condtion that usually follows improper rapid changes in atmospheric pressure, such as with scuba diving. This serious condition, classified in two types, can affect: muscles, skin, lymphatics, brain, ears, and lungs.

The bends, or decompression sickness, occurs when nitrogen bubbles expand in the bloodstream and tissues when a scuba diver surfaces too fast. Treatment for the bends is done in a recompression chamber.

Ear pain or ear squeeze is a common complaint among scuba divers. Ear pain is typically caused by a failure to equalize pressure between the interior of the ear and the outside environment.

Ear squeeze can effect a person while scuba diving. The adverse effects of pressure changes cause ear squeeze. Symptoms of ear squeeze include: ear pain, fullness in the ear, tinnitus, hearing loss, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and a discharge from the nose, mouth, or ear. Medical care should be sought if a person suffers from ear squeeze.

Earwax, or cerumen, is a substance produced by the glands in the outer ear. Earwax has a purpose, and that is to trap dust and other small particles and prevent them from potentially damaging the eardrum. Causes of earwax buildup, blockage, or impaction include using Q tips or other objects to remove earwax. Symptoms of earwax buildup or blockage include decreased hearing, a fullness or plugged feeling in the ear, ear pain, dizziness, or ringing in the ear. Home remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) medication (drops), and excess earwax buildup and blockage removal by your health care professional are treatments for earwax buildup.

Fire corals are not true corals. Fire corals are members of the Cnidaria phylum, and although fire coral looks like coral, it is more closely related to jellyfish and other stinging anemones. Symptoms of a fire coral sting or cut are an immediate burning sensation; stinging pain; a red rash; lymph node swelling; nausea; and vomiting. Most treatment of fire coral does need medical attention; however, if the cut or sting area develops pus, a blister, or red streaks appear around the injury, seek medical care immediately.

Gastric squeeze is sometimes suffered by scuba divers when gas pressure builds up painfully in the gastro-intestinal tract, causing belching and flatulence. Medical intervention is rarely required, but severe cases of gastric squeeze can cause a gut rupture.

Many animals in the ocean can bite or cause scrapes and puncture wounds, and some are even venomous. The first step in treatment is to identify the animal, the time of injury and nature of the attack. Then, first aid should be applied as appropriate.

Mask squeeze is a feeling that occurs when scuba diving as a result of failing to equalize the pressure inside the diving mask. Mask squeeze symptoms include facial bruising and redness, facial pressure, nosebleed, red eyes or face, and changes in vision (rare).

The poison found in pufferfish, blowfish, balloon fish, toads, sunfish, porcupine fish, toadfish, globefish, and swellfish is a tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin is one of the most toxic poisons found in nature. If a person suffers from pufferfish poisoning seek medical care immediately.

Scorpionfish, lionfish, and stonefish are all poisonous marine animals that live in tropical and temperate oceans, especially the Red Sea and Indian and Pacific oceans. Each of these fish have poisonous erectile spines on their dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. Encounters with these fish is generally accidental. The fine poisonous spines are covered in a mucous-containing poison that can cause mild to severe reactions. Symptoms of poisoning from these fish include: intense throbbing and pain, redness, bruising, edema, numbness, tingling, blisters, numbness, and tissue shedding at the sting site. Treatment includes: immersion in hot water, local pain blocks, tweezers to remove any spines, washing the wound site, and possibly, medical treatment and a tetanus booster.

Safe scuba diving and snorkeling tips include protecting marine animals while enjoying the sport, equipment care, and emergency preparedness.

Diving (SCUBA) emergency contacts worldwide. Find information and numbers for scuba diving emergencies accross the globe.

Sea cucumbers are marine creatures that have elongated, armless bodies. Sea cucumbers live in temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters. Contact with their excrement or eating undercooked sea cucumbers can cause a rash.

Sea sponges grow on shells, stones, or other solid objects on the ocean floor. Accidental contact with the sea sponge is generally the cause of irritation. Symptoms of sea sponge irritation include: itchy, stinging, prickly sensation at the site of irritation; burning, pain, blisters, and joint swelling. Cases of extensive body exposure can lead to fever, chills, dizziness, nausea, and muscle cramps. Treatment is cleaning the affected area and OTC treatment.

Sea urchins are non-aggressive marine animals and have spines and pedicellaria (venomous organs). Symptoms of puncture wounds include, redness, swelling around the area, fatigue, muscle aches, weakness, shock, or respiratory failure if the puncture wound is deep. Treatment of sea urchin puncture wounds are removal of th spines and pedicellaria. Antibiotics may be necessary if infection occurs.

Seaweed irritation is caused by direct contact with Lyngbya majuscula seaweed when it becomes trapped under bathing suits and other areas where skin to skin contact occurs. Treatment of seaweed irritation includes over-the-counter remedies. Symptoms of seaweed irritation include itching, burning, redness, blisters, and swelling. Consult a doctor if any signs of infection or if any symptoms other than a local reaction (redness or itching) occurs on the skin.

Sinus squeeze commonly occurs when a scuba diver cannot equalize sinus pressure due to nasal congestion. Symptoms of sinus squeeze include pressore or pain in the forehead, around the teeth, cheeks, or eyes, nosebleeds, and pressure or pain that increases as depth increases

Sea stars (starfish) and crown of thorns are both bottom dwellers. They can puncture the skin, which causes pain. Symptoms of starfish or crown of thorns puncture wound include pain, bleeding, inflammation at the injury site, nausea, vomiting, weakness, numbness, and in rare cases paralysis.Treatment methods include cleaning the area, removing any spines if possible, antibiotic cream, and oral antibiotics if infection occurs. Sea stars and crown of thorns punctures may need to be treated by a doctor.

Stingrays have flat bodies with long, slender tails that have serrated spines. Their serrated spines can cause lacerations (cuts) and puncture wounds. The spines also contain venom. Stingray stings are one of the most common dive and beach-related injuries, and most require immediate medical attention.

Surgeonfish (doctorfish, tang) is a tropical reef fish that has spines near the tail that can inflict cuts or lacerations. Symptoms of a surgeonfish cut are pain and bleeding.

Tooth squeeze is a painful condition that occurs during the ascent while scuba diving. As the scuba diver ascends to the surface, air that has become trapped in a cavity or dental filling expands causing pain. Treatment for tooth squeeze include over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Medical care should be sought should the pain not resolve.