Sunscreen in the eyes at depth

[Eoin]

Was down in Baltimore, West Cork at the weekend, great place, great diving. The weather had been foul all week, but we were lucky and it cleared nicely over Friday night and was good all weekend.
I was hoping to dive with my RB, but due to technical issues I had to miss the first dive, and stayed on the boat so I got a bit of sunburn.
I dived OC in the afternoon and on Sunday, as I couldn't get the RB fixed without parts.
On the Sunday morning we were to dive the U260 in about 42-44m. I got all my kit ready and splashed on a load of suncream to ensure that I didn't get any more sun.
We dropped down the line with no issues. When we got to the bottom, somehow some sunscreen got into my left eye and started to sting. Then it got VERY stingy, to the point where I contemplated ripping off my mask just so I could rub my eye. In the end I decided to partially flood my mask (at 38m) to ease the pain, which it did, but I was still being driven mad. I did my required stops (with my eyes closed as much as possible and surfaced without any further issues, but decided I couldn't do the second dive as my eye was still bad.
Let this be a warning, don't put too much sunscreen near your eyes before a dive!

[Jules]

Also dont put on sunscreen with your hands then use the same fingers to rub spit round your mask. It's fine to start with , then fogs up and keeps fogging up until you clean it off with detergent. I found this to my cost in the maldives where it completely ruined a dive.

Jules

[Kev]

Sunscreen is best avoided on your face entirely before a dive I think. It makes my mask about as much use as a sieve if I get sunscreen on the latex seal of the mask before I dive.

Having said that, a baseball hat and shades for the boat seems to keep even my extremely fair complection adequately protected on my face, even in the tropics.

[Lazlo]

I had the same problem on one dive in the Red Sea recently. I had to keep taking the mask off and rubbing my eyes.

After that my buddy gave me some factor 50 waterproof stuff which worked a treat. I can't remember the brand, but it comes as a green stick, like a big Pritt Stick.

[endoman]

I'm odd sunscreen shopping this weekend for red sea trip.

From the advice here I should satick to baseball cap / shades, and then carefully apply some pritt stick type stuff to other bits. Any brands to look out for, don't fancy a boat ride with no protection at all, but don't want stingy eyes either.

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by endoman

I'm odd sunscreen shopping this weekend for red sea trip.

From the advice here I should satick to baseball cap / shades, and then carefully apply some pritt stick type stuff to other bits. Any brands to look out for, don't fancy a boat ride with no protection at all, but don't want stingy eyes either.

I'll find out.

[Kev]

For the sake of clarity I still use sunscreen on my arms, legs, back of neck, shoulders, ears, top of head, neck and chin! I just do not put it anywhere near my face where my mask will be touching my skin.

I always wear a hat, shades and t-shirt on the boat to protect from the sun (good idea to take a bottle of water on too if its hot). Sadly I am truly whiter than white! This is all much to the amusement of my missus who is Indian, loves the sun and is normally busy taking the piss.

[steveharriss]

Bill, in my humble opinion you can dispense with the need for sunscreen on the boats. There's plenty of cover and you can move around to ensure you're always in the shade. I didn't bother with any on my last trip, just made do with a floppy hat and shades and a long sleeved shirt. That way you can't get any in your eyes and save the cream for when you're baking your bits ashore.....it's bloody hot there at the moment so I don't think you'll be doing much sunbathing

[endoman]

Steve

I'm intending on adding to the lobster population of the red sea then!

How's your trip?

[steveharriss]

You'll be the only lobster in the sea then!! Only ones I saw were on restaurant menus. Trip was ace as usual, posted a bit in the trip section so as not to bore everyone. Have a great time. Look forward to seeing your underwater piccies when you return.