AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Weather Current dive Conditions, Weather and Pica Pica

Use Eurax lotion if you come into contact with pica pica/sea lice. If it's real bad, use an antihistimine as well.

just got back on the 1st from 12 days in paradise, got quite a infestation of pica pica, the diving was well worth it though!!, used suntan oil before the dives, but still got into my wetsuit, was told sunblock works much better, after you get it , not much you can do but spray down with windex and smear on the benedryl cream and wait it out, DONT SCRATCH!, the thimble jellyfish were very thick the top 15-20 ft. of water, no stings from them though, dont worry, go have fun and enjoy your dives. its a beautiful wonderful place!

There was definitely sea lice swimming off Caye Chapel last week. Yuk! Weird looking things! Didn't get bit though.

Just returned from AC yesterday. Snorkeled at Hol Chan Friday 5/2 and Mexico Rocks 5/3 and didn't hit pica pica or sea lice. No one else mentioned anything either while we were there. Just an FYI.

Thanks Sloane for the great news. Heading there next week.

Has anyone out there had an experience where they used "Safe Sea" and still got Pica Pica?

Packing list:
passport
bikini
snorkel/dive gear
Safe Sea
Cactus Juice (with DEET as backup)
money for food and beer

Looks like I'm set! Only five days to wait. And the thunderstorm that weather.com scheduled for the day I arrive has pushed it back to the following day. All I can say is "keep pushing it back!"

SusanO - the rain usually doesn't last long. If it rains, there is an excuse to stop for a drink. No worries

The most important action to take against Pica Pica is to get out of your dive skin/wet suit as soon as you get out of the water. Rinse off EVERY WHERE with fresh water. The bites come from the microscopic larva trapped against your skin – like under your swimsuit. As they are deprived of water they start biting. As soon as possible rinse your skin and suit out thoroughly in fresh water.
As stated previously, they are usually in the top 15' of water. I try to do my safety stop at 20' then take my regulator out of my mouth and blow some air in a column for me to come up through. Try to time it so you can come up right under the ladder and get right onto the boat – lingering on the surface is where you will accumulate them.
Last year I was hit twice before I knew all of this. I got very sick. This spring I did the above but obviously missed under my right jawbone. I had a small patch there, but getting just a few is not bad and seemed to clear up faster than the large outbreak.
I'm coming back May 15th and bringing a diving friend so want to stay current of the conditions.
Please keep posting.

Ok what is SAFE SEA? Im planning on going
in 4 days. where can you get it and does
it work?

Read this: www.nidaria.com for info on Safe Sea

double click on the little bottle icons at the top of the page to learn about the product and how it works.