sunscreen & diving

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Just put the sunscreen on when you wake up. As long as you've given it time (30mins or so) to absorb, it'll not run in to your eyes. Re-apply soon after getting up from the first dive (if you're making a second dive). It'll absorb during the surface interval.

I also have a family history of malignant melanoma. In NZ and Australia it is common enough and kids are usually required to 'slip, slop, slap' before playing outside during summer. Some schools require a wide-brimmed hat as a uniform for youngsters. I've been burnt silly playing golf in NZ when I forgot to put sunscreen on the back of my neck. That took about 15mins of Southland sun- it can be fierce. By contrast the Maldives sun is tame and I hardly ever get burnt here.

Sunscreen works, but of course if you sit in the sun for a few hours, you'll burn crispy.
 
Use a non-chemical sunscreen that uses zinc or hard minerals to block the UV. These generally don't run when wet, however they turn your face pasty white and leave a residue on the mask, which comes off easy with a little water

As you were the first to bring this up... Is it that the non-chemical sunscreens actually do not sting the eyes or more so they don't run so they don't get in your eyes?

As an aside, I most always wear an Army-Navy store boonie hat on the boat, but my nose and cheeks still end up burnt. Never considered JahJah's reflection.
 
Solrx claims to not harm the reef, and it doesn't seem to sting my eyes. Neutrogena and bullfrog face sunscreens also seem to be sting free but no claims on the tube about reef safety.

I'm a big fan of hats and shade but on the deck of a dive boat a hat is not enough due to reflection. One blistered face is all it took for me to start using sunblock on my face. I hope to see more reef friendly, non greasy, effective sunscreens in the future.

Are you using their spray dry or the cream? Do you have to re-apply it between dives?
 
I try to be sun smart while on the dive boat but, I have always avoided using any kind of sunscreen on my face because I don't want to deal with stinging eyes while under water. Consequently, I most always end up with a sunburn.

Anyone know of a sunblock that is diver friendly and truly won't sting when it gets in your eyes?
I use Lycra skin under my wetsuit, if diving wet. On my face, titanium and zinc oxide sunscreens are milder. I use one for sensitive skin.
I always where a hat and sunglasses in addition to sunscreen but I'm basically an albino.
 
I've used Soleo for several years now... even gave an endorsement for the product when they took it to DEMA. I find I can apply it in the AM, dive all day and still be protected. It is zinc oxide based and supposedly reef friendly.
 
I use Lycra skin under my wetsuit, if diving wet. On my face, titanium and zinc oxide sunscreens are milder. I use one for sensitive skin.
I always where a hat and sunglasses in addition to sunscreen but I'm basically an albino.

Lycra is an excellent option, especially in sunny, tropical locations. It provides excellent sun protection, is a surprisingly good protection from marine stings and actually can keep you cool (by evaporation) if you splash some water on it now and again.

We offer an inexpensive lycra hood that will stay tucked in to your suit or dive skin.. Add sunglass and a hat and you are pretty well covered.

MAKO Camo Lycra Hood


MCLH-2.jpg

 
As you were the first to bring this up... Is it that the non-chemical sunscreens actually do not sting the eyes or more so they don't run so they don't get in your eyes?

As an aside, I most always wear an Army-Navy store boonie hat on the boat, but my nose and cheeks still end up burnt. Never considered JahJah's reflection.

They don't run. At worse, to over exaggerate, they create a white cloud of minerals if you rub your face underwater. But that's an exaggeration. You won't see much if someone purposely rubs it off their face underwater.
I've never gotten any in my eyes before, so I wouldn't know if it stings. Probably would if you globbed it in, but more so because of the physical characteristic of the minerals, rather than chemical.
 
I would not go out on a dive charter boat that did not have a roof overhead for shade---and I will hang out in the shade, not in the sun covered parts of the boat.
Some of our bigger dive boats in Palm Beach are awesome for this....Narcosis has lots of room under a huge shade roof, and the new boat, Wet Temptations, is spectacular for shade, comfort, no diesel smell, and the list for it goes on !!!
 
Long ago I started wearing large brimmed hats and shirts. I have dark skin, but have many in my family with skin cancer- not pretty. I just avoid the sun, and any burns. Now I am fortunate I find it difficult to burn, but avoidance has served me well. While I have a healthy tan, and could go absolutely bronze, but I live with a skin tone that I get while in the shade. Now if only I could convince my wife and daughters, my wife and one of my daughters being fair skinned.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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