Opening Your Eyes in Wild Water -- Help

[Little_Orca]

I love the look of a mermaid or merman in their photographs when they are in wild water (natural water--- ocean, river, lake, etc). It makes everything more magical and more wonderful, but... I have been spoiled thanks to a class I had to take when I was going for my biology degree at my undergrad school. A little something called parasitology -- the study of parasites. The world is innocent until you really study these little buggers, then when you look at piles of leaves and pork chops all you can think of are nematodes and blood flukes.

I am not like the character Monk; I don't freak out over germs, but I do take care of myself and try to reduce the chances of getting sick. Also, it does not help that a lot of water that can be swam in around here is reservoir water and has warnings signs of "Don't go in the water if it looks like X, Y, or Z." Fun... Further, a boy recently died near here after he went swimming and got infested with an amoeba. (They are nasty little things, especially if they make it to you brain!) All this is beginning to develop a fear of opening my eyes in wild water. Bathtubs? No problem. Pools? Not good for me, but I have less of a panic exposing my eyes to chemicals versus lake water.

How do you other mers do it? Or do you just not think about all the things that could penetrate your eye membranes and get into your body?

[Blondie]

Very interesting subject! I was just chatting with Gosalyn about how a woman was jetskiing in the river not too long ago and was exposed to a brain eating amoeba.

I think you just need to brush up on the history of the water you're going into. Springs, for example, wouldn't be the worst of your problems. Most of the water is filter and if you swim near the cavern systems (the caves that go down in the springs) it's been said there is very little oxygen in that water. Most of the time fish will swim down there quickly to remove bacteria on them.

Though, if you're going in a lake or pond, I would ask a park ranger or someone who knows the water well about how clean it really is.

[Lyna]

just lots of practice. i did some shots...or tried to...the first time i tested my tail....but my husband was the one snapping photos, on his cell phone. so he didnt get good angles, and the water had too much disturbance going on from him moving around, and they are by no means professional quality. but it still gives a cool effect in the ones you can see my eyes. a little picaso-esque. and in one its obvious that i am looking and waving from underwater.

[SilverSiren]

Great, now I'm paranoid. As if swimming in a lake wasn't terrifying enough when I feel lake plants brush against my leg and think "Ahhhhhhh! Something is touching meeeeeee! getitoffgetitoffgetitoff!" I'm not sure where the terror of lake swimming came from, I totally fine with a ocean!

[Spindrift]

Yeah I'm paranoid about that too. Usually I just research the places I swim at.

[SilverSiren]

Yeah I'm paranoid about that too. Usually I just research the places I swim at.

With stuff touching your leg or something? Yeah, it freaks me out, even though lakes are less likely to have anything truly dangerous compared to sharks, rays, jellyfish etc in them. I just can't swim somewhere where something I can't see brushes up on my leg, I get these terrible images of the plants tangling around my leg, tail, etc and pulling me under into its dark abyss. I have an over active imagination. lol

[Merman Dan]

I think they call it "willing suspension of disbelief" ;) But yeah... kelpies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelpie)

And then there was that lake scene in Harry Potter...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQPoRc5Pd0

[Winged Mermaid]

The brain killing amoeba was a really rare thing to run into.. until a few years ago. The numbers of people dying from it as compared to 50 years prior has skyrocketed. Everyone told me not to worry, that it was just in really stagnant lakes- that if I swam in one with moving water that it was alright. But then 2 guys died from using a netti pot without boiling the water first. That's in our TAP WATER. Shit is getting everywhere now! They think it's becuase of global warming, that the warm water is where they breed. So especially shallow lakes and water reservoirs are a risk. I admit I still panic a little when I get water up my nose if I'm not in a pool >_< That's how it gets into your brain, and the brain is where it can kill you. O_O

[Spindrift]

The brain killing amoeba was a really rare thing to run into.. until a few years ago. The numbers of people dying from it as compared to 50 years prior has skyrocketed. Everyone told me not to worry, that it was just in really stagnant lakes- that if I swam in one with moving water that it was alright. But then 2 guys died from using a netti pot without boiling the water first. That's in our TAP WATER. Shit is getting everywhere now! They think it's becuase of global warming, that the warm water is where they breed. So especially shallow lakes and water reservoirs are a risk. I admit I still panic a little when I get water up my nose if I'm not in a pool >_< That's how it gets into your brain, and the brain is where it can kill you. O_O

So will nose plugs help? Is that something we should invest in?

[Winged Mermaid]

For what I know about it, yes, I think that would be a good precaution. All the stories I hear are about the water getting up the nose- either via submersion or something like the netti pot- and it getting into the brain that way. If you google brain killing amoeba there are lots of stories. Here's the wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naegleria_fowleri

I actually just got a great clear nose clip from SwimOutlet. Nose clips can be crappy, so it's good to look at reviews! I got the one with the best reviews on there, and so far so good!

[Lyna]

eyes open is sounding worse and worse. but i'm fairly sure the ocean is different. more dilluted...moves...most famous mermaids say they do it constantly. just have to get used to the salt content. which i have a feeling is the same thing helping to kill some of the germs that would attack your eye. i would never open my eyes is stagnate water. or near shore, where sand, soot, and debris is thicker.

[roamingmer]

The actresses on H2O once said they used drops of milk in the eye to reduce iinfluence of extended open eyes in the salt water ponds. Don't know if it is valid: the mermaids in Vegas Silverton used googles ;-)

[Artisankatie]

Also having studied biology, I don't know if I'd say fresh vs salt water would make a huge difference to the presence of bugs, one from one environment might not survive in the other environment, but bacteria and other bugs are in pretty much every environment on the planet, probably including chlorinated water :P
That said though, I think as long as the water is very clear there shouldn't be toooooo much danger as long as you avoid water around surfaces things might call home, like weeds, mud, inorganic things etc. Obviously there will still be stuff in suspension, but I think it would be much less at a mid depth than at the bottom or near the surface.

Of course, I could be completely making things up, but that's just a slightly (very slightly!) informed opinion. With emphasis on 'opinion', I'm no expert :)

[LittleTreasure]

I wouldn't panic about opening your eyes underwater just yet, as dirty as freshwater can be...The good thing about those brain-eating amoebas is that the primary way they reach the brain is through the nose...and it's not like they try to get there on purpose. They end up getting inhaled or snorted up by accident, like when kids are playing around in the water. From what I have read, most of the infections occurred in children under thirteen, and it is very, very rare, despite the media attention. Also, I thought netti pots included boiling the water in their instructions? Or is that just a response to the amoeba infections? Still, I'm going to bring a nose plug on my trip to the lake this weekend...and I'm wearing goggles because I just can't see in that water otherwise.

[SilverSiren]

I think they call it "willing suspension of disbelief" ;)

Yeah, not so much afraid of the lake mermaid as those grindylows, nasty little buggers they look. I do get that a lot though, the willingness to believe something too easily when I get sucked into books and such, like reading a Stephen King book at night is not allowed anymore :$ And I should probably stop reading this thread so if anyone asks me in the future to do a job at a lake I wont freak out about brain eating parasite zombies. lol

[Mermaid Lei Loni]

What a terrifying thought! I was reading on the Wikipedia page about that amoeba, it's scary to think that it's possible. I'm so glad that I swim mostly in pools and that I invested in a nose plug! Thank you for sharing the information!

[Nyx]

I think they call it "willing suspension of disbelief" ;) But yeah... kelpies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelpie)

And then there was that lake scene in Harry Potter...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQPoRc5Pd0

Oh god the Kelpie, one of my favorite mythical creatures (and one of the scariest XD).
and don't get me started on the Each Uisge, they say it's more violent than the kelpie.
If I ever see a horse near a river/stream/lake I'm going to start running as far and quickly as I can.

[Mermaid Harmony]

This happened to me the other day, I've been swimming at our local pool and having a blast swimming like a guppie, and then went to the lake with my mom in my fin, and opened my eyes under water and was creeped out with the brown and green yucky water. Good thing I had my goggles on, but yeah, cloudy creepy water, is not my favorite to mermaid in.

[MerEmma]

I'll swim anywhere as long as I can see the bottom. Not being able to see the bottom is a HUGE fear of mine. /)_-

[Mermaid Saphira]

Perhaps olive oil will work? I know a few mers that use it :) Bubbles is gonna try it out soon and i will let you know if it works!

[jvry8c]

From what I read in microbiology class, naegleria fowleri (the amoeba in question) has a hard time infecting and getting in you. The only clinical cases I remember occur once someone has a bad noise bleed underwater or has some trauma to the face or nose while in fresh water. I still remember this little guy by remember it as a foul playing amoeba. :P

So mermaids and mermen don't crash your face while diving or swimming in lakes. :no-no:

[Mermaid Nerida]

Great, now I'm paranoid. As if swimming in a lake wasn't terrifying enough when I feel lake plants brush against my leg and think "Ahhhhhhh! Something is touching meeeeeee! getitoffgetitoffgetitoff!" I'm not sure where the terror of lake swimming came from, I totally fine with a ocean!

OMG! I'm sooooo glad I'm not the only person that feels this way. I swim in a VERY clear, VERY cold spring, and I know that there are no (poisonous) snakes getting in that 40 degree water, but when one of the plants touch me, I WIG OUT. My cousin is like, "bro, your a mermaid!" I just can't handle thinking there's a (poisonous) snake touching my leg (or tail) while I'm swimming. CANT. HANDLE. IT. But, I have no problems opening my eyes in wild water, I've done it all my life, I just try not to think about amoebas.