OT: Tattoos and Diving

[Gimplar]

Hey everyone, i just got a new tattoo over the weekend on my upper arm, and i know i cant get it wet especially saltwater, but i had plans to go spearfishing and i really wanted to go, ive thought about the idea of puting a plastic bag around the tattoo and sealing it with ducktape as in basically taping my whole arm, im gonna run an experiment to see if salt water can seep through ducktape. i may even put like silicone in it to seal it even more! lol i wanted to know if anyone had any experience or ideas.

 

[WarDaddy]

Best idea, stay out of the water.

you have an open wound, ocean water (especially coastal) is not the cleanest stuff. the last thing you want is an infection in your tattoo.

Looks like you should have consulted your calendar before you got your tat... I do not want to sound harsh, but you made your bed

 

[Gimplar]

LoL yeah...well it was at a tattoo convension and there were peeps from all over america/canada including some very well known tattoo artists so i decided to get mine done by a custom tattoo place. Regardless it was worth it, but i really wanna go diving.

 

[darylb72]

you may be able to seal it with a super glue layer. I know when I get cuts and what not I use super to keep from getting whatever I am working on in the cut.

 

[BillyFSU]

Just put some windex on it. You might get away with it but then again you might have to live with something fugly on your arm for the rest of your life.

 

[cwegescheide]

If you have an open wound so to speak I think salt water is not the smartest thing to be in. The bacteria that lives in the water can cause you a lot of problems if your unlucky enough to cross paths with the wrong organism. I'd say wait till your tat heals.

Chris

 

[denwak]

And what about the gunk that will form from the duct tape goo and the saltwater mixing? Dude, the fish will always be there, you only have 2 arms. Wait till you are healed. Or find someone with a dry suit!

 

[o2zen]

If its a nice tatt then take care of it and keep it out of the water. Would suck to get it infected and end up with a scar in the middle of your tatt.

I can always take your place diving and tell you all about it, got a camera and I can grab the moment for you

 

[ladyfsu]

I've known people who have gotten serious infections from salt water that lingered for years...yes, years. My dad would be one of them. There are some friggin weird parasites and bacteria out there sometimes.

If you do, make sure you clean it super WELL when you get out!

 

[LauraCline]

I say go for it and just clean it up when you get out. After a week it probably isn't much of an open wound anyway. Maybe cover it with some vaseline or waterproof sunblock. Before I knew about all the nasty diseases you can get from saltwater I was in the water at Coquina Beach all the time with cuts and everything, and I've never had a problem. I'm also not too big into antibacterial soaps and cleaners, I think alot of it is unnecessary and overdone. Just my opinion though - I'm not a doctor or a marine biologist.

 

[Gimplar]

True, and i like the vaseline idea, it's basically healed, cause i would say i heal faster then normal cause its basically completely healed up and the peeling has basically stopped, im still puting Aquaphor on it, but i dunno if i should keep putting it on...Is the reason why i need to stay away from water due to the bacteria and stuff? i thought it was for hte healing process, and like that within the first week, it'll heal but the outter skin will be thin? i dunno, but now that im looking at it, it doesnt even look like it has any scabbing or anything. We've already done test experiments with silicone, 4 mill plastic sheets, duct tape, and plumbing non adhesive tape...nothing with favorable outcomes.

 

[deftonead]

i got a tattoo and went to the keys on a dive trip a couple days later. i tryed the whole bag idea.... no good, bad idea. water still got in. mine faded horribly! good thing the guy who did it understood and redid it for free.

 

[Gimplar]

yeah ive def decided not to go, just not going to risk it and its suppose to be 13-15 winds this weekend.