A DIVE GONE WRONG
While diving in Indonesia, a diver was stung by a hydroid, leading to some frightening symptoms
THE INCIDENT
A DAN Member was on a liveaboard trip in Indonesia. He was in good overall health with no known allergies. While on the second dive of the day, which was to 29 metres, the diver felt something hit his neck during the ascent and saw that it was a hydroid.
At that stage, he was at 23 metres and there was a strong current on the wall when the incident occurred. He immediately felt his neck become hot and burning. He panicked, became confused and descended to 47 metres without realising.
After composing himself, he ascended slowly and completed his safety stop, finishing the dive safely without further incident. When his buddy checked his neck there was only one small red spot.
Back on the boat he treated his neck with a hot compress and took an antihistamine.
The diver felt fine, so four hours later he commenced the final dive of the day to 15 metres. However, he soon aborted the dive as his breathing became difficult. That night, his neck began to swell.
“I felt my body getting hot, I couldn’t move my neck much due to the swelling and it was hard for me to eat and breathe”
For the remaining four days of the trip, the diver did not complete any further dives. There was an ear, nose and throat doctor on the boat who monitored his condition. During this time, the diver recalled, “I felt my body getting hot, I couldn’t move my neck much due to the swelling and it was hard for me to eat and breathe.”
The day after the trip ended, he visited the hospital in Jakarta and was told there was fluid inside the wound that could be toxic. Surgery was undertaken the same day, as the diver was complaining of difficulty breathing. Two holes were made in his neck and a tube inserted to enable the fluid to drain. The following day, all the swelling had gone, his breathing improved and he could start eating normally.
He was given a course of antibiotics and painkillers and recovered fully. He has since completed 300 dives without incident.
ANALYSIS
While the swelling was significant, the diver did not complain of symptoms that are typically associated with a significant hydroid envenomation, such as nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and/or confusion. The diver did complain of difficulty breathing and eating, but this appears to be directly related to the location of the swelling.
It is highly unusual for a hydroid sting to result in the swelling and difficulty breathing that this diver experienced. It is likely the initial wound became infected, possibly during the subsequent dive. A coral polyp or another disease-carrying agent (pathogen) could have entered the wound, leading to the infection.
As divers, we must be conscious of the risk of serious marine infection, particularly in the tropics. What might seem insignificant at the time can become far more serious, and quickly. Without prompt and appropriate care, such wounds can become dangerous, and at times a threat to limb and life. Tetanus is common in the sea and it is always advisable for divers to keep their tetanus prophylaxis up to date.
All wounds need to be cleaned thoroughly and there should be a low tolerance to seeking medical attention where antibiotics may often be prescribed to avoid infection.
Over the page, we take a closer look at hydroids.