Dive Travel Poll

[Mr.Poseidon]

Speaking for myself, I miss the daily read on this thread. In my attempt to spark some interest, I would be curious on your thoughts regarding dive travel in this current Covid-19 environment.

Since many areas are starting to open up, let’s assume you could travel from point A to point B and the only concern would be the virus and what we know “today”. Given these parameters, when would your start your dive travel?

For myself, I have a trip planned in late October. Based on today, I believe I would go since we’ve chartered the boat, I would like to start living again, and I feel the risk of getting to my destination and being infected with the virus on the boat in the middle of nowhere is less than going to a concert, sporting event, other.

Again, subject to change, but based on today, I hope to start traveling and diving in
6 months.

How do my fellow divers feel?

 

[loosenit2]

I would hope 6 months but will make assessments based on conditions, not hope

 

[Brett Hatch]

I would hope 6 months but will make assessments based on conditions, not hope

Same. If I were a gambling man, I'd put this to be most likely in the 6-12 month range than either side of it, so that's what I voted. But I sure as heck am not booking any trips until things are looking very different from how they are today, cheap flights be damned.

 

[FishCity]

Um. Not in 2020 for sure.

 

[CWK]

Domestic travel within 6 months. International travel within 12 months hopefully.

 

[Indah]

It is so very hard, or just impossible, to predict how things will develop from here/now. Plenty of theories, but still a total lack of data. In the meantime we are thinking how it will, or should, change the way we run our business. Run our life. Live a boards with a 1.5 meter rule? Not a business we are in, but just wondering. Should we change the way we set up our restaurants in our resorts? No buddy-checks anymore? Already for many years we offer the service of a private boat, will that be standard service? Massage and spa with face-masks? What will flights costs when the space between passengers should be much wider? (Or will people stay at home with a future generation of VR glasses?). Or will it be back to business as usual? Anyway, in the meantime, stay safe and happy.

 

[CWK]

Malayysia has announced lifting of lockdown on 4th May, so I’m thinking of monthly domestic dive trips from June and switching to international dive trips when international travel resumes.

 

[Searcaigh]

Our "local" diving has just re-started this weekend, but I've declined to join as I still consider five people in a 7m boat plus two crew still not meeting the criteria for social distancing, especially as one of my buddies returned to work last Sunday to a full office of 50+ persons after six weeks of lockdown, when the government here issued a strict plan of no more than 33% occupancy in offices where a two meter social distancing can be achieved.

In the Middle East, all borders remain closed, but there is a rumour that Emirates will resume flights mid July. I'm still apprehensive about entering a large tube with a hundred or so people for several hours to travel to anywhere.

When air travel does open up again I would expect face masks and other precautions will be mandatory. I had six flights back in February and chose to wear an N95 mask on all of them, however it was only on my last flight from Riyadh to Dubai that I noticed most of the passengers wearing masks of some description.

When the opportunity arises I will be returning to Tulamben for a well deserved escape and some long relaxed shore dives and nudibranchs

 

[Indah]

Malayysia has announced lifting of lockdown on 4th May, so I’m thinking of monthly domestic dive trips from June and switching to international dive trips when international travel resumes.

But I think until June it is not yet allowed to travel from one part of Malaysia to another? Probably mainly to prevent the huge traffic of people at the end of the Ramadan.

 

[CWK]

But I think until June it is not yet allowed to travel from one part of Malaysia to another? Probably mainly to prevent the huge traffic of people at the end of the Ramadan.

Traveling between states within Malaysia is not yet allowed. I think this is mainly aimed at the end of Ramadan.

The new normal does include continued social distancing measures and mass social events are still not allowed. The ministry of health will continue to trace and test. I imagine that if the number of new cases continues to go down, domestic travel will be allowed by June.