Bula! Hello! We've just spent 18 days in Fiji. And what a time that was!
Before we went though I had so many questions! Well, now that we're home and I've found the answers to some of those questions, I thought I might share my discoveries. After all, sharing is caring.
Also, I thought that by sharing my discoveries, I might help you save time, money and perhaps add to your safety and comfort!
So, over a series of posts, I hope to tackle some topics that might be of interest to you to help you in your preparation for a holiday in Fiji.
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| Picture perfect (Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) |
So here's the next topic I'm going to tackle - safety in the water - you never know what could be lurking there - and especially sea lice!
Snorkeling, sea creatures and safety
Fiji is synonymous with coral reefs, white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. With more than 300 islands, it makes sense that it is positioned as a preferred tourist destination for diving and snorkelling.When it comes to snorkelling it pays to keep your hands to yourself where coral is concerned. Firstly, coral are easily damaged.
Secondly, because it can take a whole year for coral to grow up to 0.3 to 2 cm while some faster branching coral can grow up to 10 cm a year and your touch could set them back years.
Thirdly, and more importantly, you might get stung - by pretty coral, cute fishes and also cleverly disguised fishes masquerading as dead coral or stone.
Some coral can pack a nasty sting. I won't repeat what has already been well documented about stinging fire coral, black and white banded sea snakes, stone fish, lion fish, scorpion fish, moray eel, cone fish, jelly fish, crown of thorns, trigger fish, sharks, sea urchins, stingrays, rabbit fish etc. which you can read here and here.
There was one little nuisance marine creature that appears to be undetectable to the eye that I want to talk about instead - sea lice!
Sea lice
We were so excited about finally getting to do some snorkelling at the smaller islands that we'd heard so much about when I felt little stings first on my finger and then on my arm.The sting did not last long and there was no immediate reaction like itching of the stung spot or rash or swelling or redness. The sting was intense but didn't last any more than a second or so and then it was gone. Or so it seemed.
I carried on snorkelling and thought nothing of it. I couldn't see anything in the water and I was too engrossed in the coral and fish to give these a second thought. Every now and then I'd seem to "run into" a patch of warm water and experience more stings. By about the third or fourth "run ins" I was trying to make myself as small as possible and to present as few exposed body parts as possible.
Lucky for me I had on an extra layer of tight fitting short sleeved rash guard suit and swimming shorts. This was in case I got cold in the water and also to reduce the amount of sunscreen I would normally use.
It wasn't until the following day that the effects of these multiple stings added up to over 70 little itchy red bumps!
And then a few days later, these little bumps became blistery looking bumps that made me look like I was diseased and had chicken pox or something! And the ITCH! It was dreadful!
I had seven little bumps just on my thumb alone! Some of these were very close together and kinda "joined" up into one another.
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| Itchy bumpy and blistery! (Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) |
I found that ice helped sooth the itch. Also, luckily for me I usually travel with some sort of anti-septic anti-itching creams (usually something that contains a good amount of lignocaine in its active ingredient). I pretty much plastered myself with these.
As the bumps looked like tiny little blisters, I took great care not to burst the blister and took care to avoid scratching them.
Apart from the intense itchiness, I suffered no other ill effects like nausea, fever or vomiting which I was watching out for in case it was more serious.
I did not yet know what these were until I went on another day cruise and chatted with the locals. I also searched the internet and found only one mention of something about sea lice but it sounded more like they were having issue with fleas rather than sea lice.
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| My son's arm the day after encountering the sea lice (Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) |
What the locals said was that Yes, there are things they called sea lice which they would encounter on occasion when they went into the sea. It was just something they were used to and it didn't seem to bother them. I surmised then that each person could potentially react differently to it.
Some said that it was when the waters were warm that they noticed it most while others said that it was when the waters were rough and stormy. No one knew for sure what the optimum conditions were for these sea lice. They also did notice that they appeared in swarms.
As for us, we encountered these at most places we went to on our day cruises, and hardly any when we were on Mantaray Island (on Nanuya Balavu Island in the Yasawa Islands group).
And so began my search to find some means of protection against pesky stingers.
So we went into Nadi town centre to look for rash vests and pants.
The outcome wasn’t perfect, and with hindsight, I should have gone for a more fitting rash vest but the pants worked fine.
Rash suits, ice, anti-itch creams and dilo oil
So what have I learnt from all these? Wear tight fitting rash suits and pants as a guard against these sea lice. Ice the stings, apply anti-septic anti-itching creams. And one other thing, while chatting with one of the sales staff at Jacks of Fiji, I mentioned my encounters with the sea lice and she suggested a bottle of dilo oil. And the verdict? It seemed to work for me while another local said they used coconut oil for the stings. |
| Dilo oil (Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) |
Anyway, forewarned is forearmed. Now you can be more prepared than we were.
Vinaka vaka levu! Thank you very much for reading! Catch you at my next post.
