Last trip - 2022
Upcoming trips 2023:
Upcoming trips 2024:
Preliminary Fiji Trip report - Cayman, July 2022 - and Covid-19 update
28 people went to Compass Pointe, East End, Grand Cayman. Weather was good - but of course - got even better the day we left. Diving was great - expect to see the full collection of pictures - soon - on our club's photo-site. We liked the resort and staff and got to dive spots the club has not visited for a very long time.
Unfortunately our group - again - got caught up in Covid-19 infections. A total of 8 people got infected. Good news - only one person was quarantined and left behind for 4 extra days. The other 7 only tested positive after return to the US (it appears that the strain that hit us - was spreading slower than the one in Fiji). Nobody needed to be hospitalized. But symptoms were probably a little worse than Fiji.
In general "the world is getting tired of Covid-19" - the restrictions for travel worldwide are being reduced or eliminated (due to this sentiment; not due to medical reality): we did not have to pre-test to get into Cayman (testing requirement was cancelled 2 weeks before departure); the US no longer requires a pre-test to travel home [allowing everybody without strong symptoms to travel home uncontested - and test only back in their homes]. We are vigorously watching the developing requirements for Saba and Indonesia.
In general mandated protection - Masks and Distancing rules - are also being relaxed around the world.- anyway we have now proven twice that self protection is still recommended/desired and occasionally needed - and since we never know when - we have to do it all the time.
The one requirements that stands - in most countries around the world - is that entry is contingent on vaccination status. And just a reminder - the events in both Fiji and Cayman - highlights the need for adequate travel insurance including the "newest element" - coverage for quarantine, only [rather than hospital confinement]. Dependent on country - this insurance is sometimes a requirement for entry - in other cases it is voluntary - but always strongly recommended.
Preliminary Fiji Trip report - Fiji, May 2022 - and Covid-19 update
16 people went to Volivoli and Garden Island (Taveuni). Weather was great - except for the day a tropical system went by - hundreds of miles away. Diving was great - expect to see the full collection of pictures in a few weeks on our clubs photo-site.
The trip report remains pending - several people got delayed, processing pictures, and our Photo Gallery Coordinator was among the Covid-19 impacted people in Cayman, see above
Upcoming trips 2022:
Unfortunately half the group caught a Covid-19 infection. The quarantine delay ranged from 3 to 8 days. In summary, everybody made it home safely, Nobody needed to be hospitalized. One more infection was detected only after arriving home - for a total of 9 out of 16. A few divers spent weeks before fully recovering. Many of us are still waiting for the insurance claims to settle.
In general - the Covid-19 restrictions for travel worldwide are being reduced or eliminated: we did not have to pre-test to get into Fiji; we did need a negative test to board the Fiji Air planes homebound. For Cayman the requirement to pretest was just canceled (effective 6/30); the US no longer requires a pre-test to travel home. We are vigorously watching the requirements for Saba and Indonesia.
In general - Covid-19 is not gone but have developed in a more and more benign direction (less bad consequences than in the early days). Self protection is still desired and occasionally needed - and since we never know when - we have to do it all the time [Mandated protection - Masks and distancing rules - are also being relaxed around the world.
The one requirements that stands - in most countries around the world - is that entry is contingent on vaccination status. And just a reminder - the event in Fiji - highlights the need for adequate travel insurance including the "newest element" - coverage for quarantine, only [rather than hospital confinement]. Dependent on country - this insurance is sometimes a requirement for entry - in other cases it is voluntary - but always strongly recommended.
Upcoming trips 2024*:
* Trips with a star are not yet advertised for sale.
Chris and I went to DEMA, and we had a committee meting on 11/29 - to decide to lock in some DEMA specials. Here is the status of our future travel program:
Trip Announcement - at Nov 4 Meeting (last item of the evening)
Damai 1, liveaboard, Mar 13-24, 2023
Raja Ampat & Triton Bay, Indonesia
Patrice Marker - HOF - is a repeat Damai customer (and so is Rob - our November speaker). Both have promised to stay around for our last program point of the evening: after the general speaker presentation (please note that the evenings presentation do share some dive spots with our planned trip) and the normal meeting topics - I want to keep anybody interested in the Damai 1 trip around - and present the trip.... As past satisfied customers Patrice and Rob are available to help you with any question you might have. [Zoom will stay open - but it might appear "dormant" between the two major topics]
The meeting is preferably in person - for vaccinated members and guests. If you can - please show our guest the courtesy and show up in person
I will post all details, signup forms and payment schedules on the trip pages - when ready - https://usadiveclub.org/event-4550899
As an introduction please read this article in Volume 107 of the X-ray-pdf magazine (just out this September) - it is "our trip" on "our boat" -
https://xray-mag.com/content/raja-ampat-papuan-odyssey
VP Overseas Diving - Nils
Normal Newsletter Entry (Nov 2021): It is time to go diving again
At this time we have successfully completed our rescheduled 2021 program, the Belize Aggressor IV trip and the trip with Reef Divers/Clearly Cayman to Turks and Caicos Islands (originally LCBR) - a total of 41 divers. The next 3 (4) trips - 2022 and 2023 - are all very likely to take place as currently scheduled. First 3 trips are advertised in detail on the travel pages (details on Damai 1 will be available by 11/4 - please check occasionally or drop me an email and I will tell you when)
https://usadiveclub.org/Overseas
If you are part of the growing number of divers anxious to get out diving again please act fast. Because all the trips are on their second or third date the club do not hold any spots – so you can chose to buy later – before a cutoff deadline. That deadline is already in the past. We add spots - if or when we can - only after we sell them. Our operators have suffered a lot of lost business and are eager to ensure that when activities open up their boats and resorts are as full as possible. Hence they do not wait for us – all spot are open for sale to anybody who wants to buy on a first come basis.
Questions – please reach out to me or the trip leads:
================ Upcoming trips 2023:
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