As more countries open up and Covid restrictions ease, the world’s best dive destinations are accessible once again. It’s a great time to get back in the water, take advantage of quiet dive sites, and support the destinations you love. It can be a little overwhelming to plan a dive trip these days, but we’ve taken the hard work out of it. Read on for our top tips to help you plan your first post-Covid vacation.
As more countries open up and Covid restrictions ease, the world’s best dive destinations are accessible once again. It’s a great time to get back in the water, take advantage of quiet dive sites, and support the destinations you love. It can be a little overwhelming to plan a dive trip these days, but we’ve taken the hard work out of it. Read on for our top tips to help you plan your first post-Covid vacation.
1. Research your dream destinations
Researching your dream destinations is one of the best parts of planning a dive trip, but it was a littler trickier during the pandemic when many places were closed.
Thankfully, many of the world’s best dive destinations are now open. Go diving in Bonaire for world-class shore dives and sea turtles, or explore all that Cozumel, the Bahamas, and Hawaii have to offer.
A little further afield, the vibrant soft coral reefs and impressive wrecks of Egypt await. With Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands open to tourists as of July 2022, and Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia open as of August 2022, the world is your oyster.
2. Revisit your favorite dive spots
It is understandable if you are nervous about going away or the extra planning needed to travel in Covid times. Take the pressure off yourself by revisiting your favorite dive spot.
You can book accommodation you are familiar with, stay in a town you know well, and explore with a dive operator you trust. All of these will dramatically reduce your stress levels and ensure you come home refreshed.
3. Find out what’s open
Once you have chosen your destination, find out which tourist attractions are open and if there are any Covid precautions you need to take. It’s better to find out what you can and can’t do before booking, especially if you have kids who will need non-diving activities to keep them entertained.
If you are not sure how to find out what is open, have a chat with a local dive center at your chosen destination. The staff will be more than happy to help you.
4. Find the best accommodation for your needs
Staying at a luxurious hotel or resort that provides delicious food and post-dive snacks all day long is wonderful. If you are comfortable with communal eating during Covid times, then hotels and resorts are great options. Most of them have Covid control measures in place.
However, a private vacation rental is a good choice if you want to avoid communal dining and minimize the chances of catching Covid. Either way, make sure you have a backup quarantine option just in case you get sick.
5. Make sure your booking is flexible
It’s important to check the Covid cancellation policy and the cost of booking changes for your preferred flights, accommodation, and diving. Make sure your booking is flexible and that you know what will happen (and the costs) if you cannot travel due to Covid.
6. Check your destination entry requirements
Make sure you check Covid-related entry requirements for your destination, including:
- Vaccination status and if proof is required
- Pre-departure and arrivals Covid testing
- Medical insurance
- Quarantine requirements
- What to do if you test positive for Covid during your trip
If you are traveling from the US, you can find destination-specific requirements on the CDC website. The foreign travel advice on gov.uk is also a good place to start.
7. Know how to get medical care
If you get sick during your trip, you may need medical care. Make sure you are prepared by writing down your destination’s hospital, doctor’s surgery, and pharmacy details. If you are going diving somewhere remote or on a liveaboard, have a chat with your dive operator to find out what will happen if you become unwell.
8. Budget for unexpected costs
Put some extra money aside for your trip if you get Covid so you can afford additional nights at a hotel, quarantine, and unexpected healthcare costs.
9. Check if you need a dive medical
If you have been diagnosed with Covid, and depending on how recently, you may need to get fit-to-dive clearance from a dive medicine specialist. Request a diver medical form when you book your dive trip and go through it with a physician to see what you will need to do.
10. Pack some Covid essentials
Dive trip excitement builds when you start packing your dive gear, swimwear, and reef-safe sunscreen. Make sure you also pack these Covid essentials:
- Hand sanitizer
- A reusable water bottle
- Masks and gloves
- Disinfectant wipes or spray
- Some at-home Covid tests in case you start to feel sick at your destination
- Painkillers, vitamin C tablets, and throat lozenges
- Anything else you might need if you must quarantine
11. Make sure you have easy access to your medical records
If you get Covid on vacation, you may need antiviral treatment. Take a copy of your medical records with you so that healthcare providers can see if you have any health issues or are taking medications. Make sure you also keep a copy of your dive, accident, and travel insurance handy.
12. Refresh your dive skills
Your dive skills might be a bit rusty if you have been out of the water for a while, so make sure you refresh your skills pre-departure.
Completing a scuba refresher course will ensure you are a safe and confident diver again so you spend less time trying to remember your skills and more time having fun.
13. Keep it simple and have fun
You made it! Have a fantastic vacation and remember why we travel — to relax, explore beautiful dive sites, experience different cultures, and have fun with new dive buddies.
Every moment of planning is worth it when you step into the ocean and descend into our gorgeous, watery world. Remember that and enjoy!
Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for SSI (Scuba Schools International), wrote this article.
