Great Barrier Reef

Things that Hurt on the Reef. summary
By Walt Deas

Many divers have read about first hand accounts of a deep-sea diver’s hair-raising fight with a giant octopus. These actual encounters may have occurred, but are usually the figment of the author's imagination. Few marine animals have received greater attention from fiction writers than the octopus. Most are harmless, but they can be curious, but cautious and tend to hide in holes or in caves. Some if the larger specimens (such as those found in Puget Sound, Washington, U.S.A.) could hold on inexperienced diver and cause a near drowning. All cephalopods have beaks, similar to a parrot’s in shape and they inflict a nasty bite. Although octopus bites of humans are exceedingly rare, do not let any of the cephalopods crawl on you as a bite from one of the more deadly could kill you.

The Blue-Ringed Octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa and H. lunulata have killed people. A Darwin (Australian) resident captured a small octopus and permitted the creature to crawl over his arms, shoulders and to the back of his neck. He did not feel any sting or bite. This would seem to be common that the bite is painless and thus goes unnoticed. A small bleeding puncture was noticed later. Soon he complained of dryness in his mouth and difficulty in swallowing. The victim then began to vomit, developed a loss of muscular control, and suffered from respiratory distress. He was rushed to hospital but died two hours later after being bitten. The octopus was identified as Hapalochlaena lunulata.

Another death was that of Private James A. Ward of Sydney, Australia in 1967, which with two other soldiers had been exploring rock pools at popular Camp Cove in Sydney Harbour, when he discovered a small octopus and put it on his arm. He died 90 minutes later despite resuscitation and external heart massage. The creature responsible was H. maculosa. A small, but very distinctive marked species. It is a yellowish colour with iridescent blue-purple markings on its body and tentacles, which show up particularly when it is disturbed. The bright colours make these octopi very attractive to young children and are very common in some locations.

After being bitten, a painless paralysis dominates. The duration of which varies between four and twelve hours. A lot depends upon how severe the bite was. No matter what, enlist medical aid. Artificial respiration may be required for hours. Do not pick up any small colourful octopus, the dangers from this animal are extreme, and children should be educated not to touch or collect them.

BRISTLE WORMS

Small elongated segmented and at times beautiful worms, often quite colourful with whitish bristles down each side. Each of these tufts is comprised of many tiny venomous spines, which are extremely sharp and can cause an intense, burning sensation. These tiny bristles, which are like fiberglass strands, often break off and remain lodged in one's skin. They are composed of calcium carbonate, which explains the initial irritant effect. Some species can inflict a severe bite.

The intense burning or itching can last up to a week or more. The bristles can be partly removed by applying the sticky surface of adhesive plaster and removing it, with hopefully, many of the bristles. Apply vinegar, alcohol, calamine or cooling lotions. A local anesthetic ointment should help out over the first few hours, then a local antibiotic ointment. Medical attention might be required as some allergy prone people can be susceptible to bristle worm sings. The bites should be washed with water, sodium bicarbonate or an antiseptic and the application of an antibiotic ointment. In an emergency try a paste made of meat tenderizer or a diluted solution of ammonia.

Scientists have discovered that some of the bristle worms that feed on coral incorporate the coral’s stinging defense system into their own defense arsenal.

CRUSTACEANS

Crustaceans have caused many minor injuries; these can be in the form of nips to the skin from flesh-eating sea-lice, or of pricks from the spines of marine crabs, crayfish or lobsters. Gloves may protect you from the claws of small crustaceans, but will do little to protect against the crushing abilities of large ones. The mantis shrimp is not called the Thumb splitter for nothing, its front claws are extremely powerful, it can also use its tail spines to good effect. Do not try to pick this creature up!

Provoked, these creatures can produce cuts, bruises and at times extreme pain. Wash the wound and apply pressure to stop any bleeding. Get medical attention for any serious wounds.

Barnacles are basically a shrimp in a shell and this shell is sharp and irregular. Avoid being dashed against barnacle-covered rocks. Wash the wound, apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding and apply an antibiotic. Barnacle wounds often become infected and one should see a doctor.

These are some of the creatures you may meet in the oceans of the world. (I have not touched on fish that bite or sting) Stay clear of contact with any marine creature you do not fully understand. Avoidance is the foremost remedy for diver injury elimination.

BarrierReefAustralia.com would like to acknowledge the the kind permission granted to us to use the article featured by Walt Deas who has, since 1950, travelled the world working and exploring the depths as a professional diver and photographer. With a history of scuba diving and photography dating back to Scotland as early as 1950, Walt Deas is one of diving’s early pioneers, along with Jacques Cousteau, Hans Hass and Ron Taylor. Permission obtained from http://www.seawestproductions.com/ visit their site for more information on Walt Deas and his underwater video productions. 

See our info on some of the more lethal marine life here

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