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...Meanwhile the GC beaches open on Saturday! Small positive steps...
Will you be able to shore dive?
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...Meanwhile the GC beaches open on Saturday! Small positive steps...
Will you be able to shore dive?
Thanks - I have not seen nor heard of any reference the 4 phase plan document previously. Is it public as I'd be curious as to what they have planned? In any event, enjoy getting out to the beach again - seems enough quarantine time has passed with no new entries from the outside that diving for locals should be able to resume as well?just for the sake of providing accurate context, regardless of our own personal views as to heath vs economics, the CI government has developed a detailed planning document laying out 4 levels or phases to economic recovery. They have been extremely thoughtful, especially compared to my home country, which is why we are in no hurry to leave.
Additionally, the Premier has been very explicit to state (and passionately restated in his briefing yesterday ) that the government’s priority is health and life of the CI population. Not saying you have to agree, but the goals and plans are very explicit. Let’s hope they work, and that the Cayman Islands come back as strong as they were.
Meanwhile the GC beaches open on Saturday! Small positive steps.
Stay safe
Hi @caydiverTotally agree about shore diving! Boat diving here is going to be hard to make profitable. Many local divers are in the service industry and are gone or broke. Many do shore diving anyway. We don’t make enough money from locals to pay overhead. Can pay someone even a basic wage to work two mornings a week when there are enough bodies on the boat, and cannot afford to run the boat unless there are enough bodies. We don’t make money during slow season even giving incentives to locals. Sadly a different business model to Florida and easy access to many dive sites from shore.
Wow, no wonder DMs, instructors, etc. would like to go to Grand Cayman or similar, the pay and benefits are in a completely different league than in the US. I believe most US DMs/guides, mainly work for tips. Obviously, instructors are a bit different. I don't know who might get "benefits"Thank you. Keeping our fingers crossed. One big difference here is the work permit issue. There are very few Caymanians actually working as DMs, so most are work permit holders. To get the permit they have to be guaranteed so many hours, and pension and health. The Work permits themselves are not cheap. Even on a boat with only 2 divers we need a guide and surface watch. It is very different than operating in a place like the US where you can even tap part timers or someone qualified who wants to wants to work for a few hours here and there or even trade some time for working for the op. It’s not an option here. We would love to have more Caymanians on board for a whole host of reasons! The WP requirements is one reason why so many who work in tourist related industries on WPs are being encouraged to leave. If their employer cannot afford to pay everything until the tourists return, not only will they be stuck, but it might also mean the op having to close its doors. Sadly even if we open the doors in September, we are looking at sleepy time in The Caribbean.