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THE DIVER
The diver was a 67-year-old male with 35 years of diving experience.
THE INCIDENT
Early one afternoon near La Paz, Mexico, at Los Islotes, a popular
dive site and sea lion rookery, a sea lion bit the diver on the
stomach. At the time of the attack he was scuba diving in less than
20 feet of seawater with approximately 50 other divers from several
dive boats present. After the attack, fellow divers and the crew
helped him back aboard the ship. They removed his 3mm wetsuit
to assess the injury and control the bleeding. He was conscious and
lucid the entire time.
By Marty McCafferty, EMT-P, DMT
RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MEDICINE
INCIDENT INSIGHT
Sea Lion Bite
64
|
WINTER 2016
Although uncommon, unprovoked sea
lion bites can occur, and divers should
be aware of the potential hazard.
BRANDON COLE
ED STETSON