Are there bloodworms or other disgusting critters swarming everywhere during night dives? We were diving in the Bahamas last summer and on every night dive the bloodworms would swarm around, bouncing off faces and totally attracted to dive lights. They made diving very unpleasant.

Night dives on Bonaire are very special. Some jellys from time to time, but that's about it.

Yes, there are bloodworms attracted to lights, especially bright ones. Hey, it's the ocean, what do you expect? The water is salty, too...

A good reason to keep the lights dim and small.

Here is a picture of some swarming near a light; this is from Klein Bonaire last year in October.

There are plankton around in the water at night we always rinse our ears with fresh water. The Chemist in town has ear drops (Alucette sp.?) which helps prevent infection.

I saw a couple of these last year. Never knew what they were. Based on my own night dives on Bonaire I would say they are not seen in great numbers or frequently

Thanks everyone. Yes, I know the ocean is salty...but there aren't blood worms everywhere in the ocean. We night dive in Hawaii and have never encountered them.

Guess we'll just give it a go and if they are too annoying, we'll stick to dusk and dawn dives before they come out in force. ;)

Actually, I doubt that they are bloodworms. I used the term because it is a popular term for the critters, which are usually plankton. They are certainly attracted to lights, especially on Klein where they don't see many lights, but also elsewhere. In maybe 100 night dives on Bonaire I'd say they have been an irritant only 2-3 times, and never enough to get me to abort or not do a dive.

Coral spawning time the water is often crowded with wiggling worms (plankton) they can be a real nuisance at times. Ear cleaning is then very important.

Brian..You're absolutely correct about the "ear thing". I always stop by the Botica in town & pick up their diver drops which is a mixture of a soluble oil & some vinegar (sounds like salad dressing) & use it prophylactically throughout our trip. I'm also a fan of Doc's Pro earplugs. Sure beats otis externa.

Vince, We use them as well - after every dive, much better than the other ear products which are mainly alcohol.

Doc's Pro Plugs is the answer! I use them on every dive to stop ear infections. They also stop that pluged up feeling one gets after a dive... Ron

I have used Doc's for several years (always keep a second pair as backup)

Are Docs Pro Plugs a dive shop item or a drugstore item?
Thanks, Skip

Skip... Docs plugs are basically a dive item. Make sure you purchase the vented ones for diving. Just google & I'm sure you'll get plenty of places to buy.

This is the first worm (I think it's a Ribbon Worm) that I have seen on Bonaire during night dives, and this was my fifth trip.

http://www.proplugs.com/

I have 4 sets, and you don't need the lanyard. It just gets tangled on your gear... Ron

Thanks for the info.
Skip

I love the proplugs as well but lately I have been coming up to find them missing from my ears--I don't seem to notice when they fall out...must not be fitting properly.