Dive Travel in the Time of Coronavirus: Undercurrent 11/2021

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We live in changing times when nothing about international travel is certain, and COVID infections can change or destroy well-laid plans. The virus is not going away. We must learn to live with this or risk eternal disappointment. These are especially difficult times for operators of liveaboards and dive centers abroad.

Pre-trip testing of all passengers and crew is mandatory.

Liveaboard dive boats can be effectively Petri dishes for infection. To avoid contagion, liveaboards must rely both on strict protocols by the crew and adherence to those protocols by the passengers. Vaccination does not stop you from carrying the disease but enables your body to resist it and avoid hospitalization and possibly death. However, we've all heard stories of people refusing to wear masks because it impinges on their freedom, which really is the immoral freedom to infect others.

In the October issue of Undercurrent, we mentioned a COVID incident aboard an Undersea Hunter Fleet vessel (MV Argo) during a 36-hour crossing to Cocos Island, when it was discovered that one of its crew was infected with the coronavirus. The owners acted decisively, the vessel returned to port, and further testing revealed two more crew members were infected. We also noted that when flying, you must be concerned about the passengers across the aisle. Indeed, worry about the others on your liveaboard too....

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