Covid Tests

[tursiops]

OK, my plan was to take a flight from London to Puerto Vallarta, then on to Los Cabos via Mexico City. Then a couple of days at Los Cabos before getting on the liveaboard. The operators say:

"ALL GUESTS ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW PROOF OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST TAKEN WITHIN 72 HOURS BEFORE
BOARDING"

I would get the test in Cabos. I understand that it takes 3-5 days after exposure before you test positive. So my test in Cabos is effective to check that I haven't caught it off the few dozen people I may have met in the days before leaving London. But nothing is done for the far greater risk that I might have caught if from any of the thousands of people I will have passed when flying. That's the same for all guests on the boat. Our trips are being put in jeopardy to give us negligible protection in face of bigger risks that we readily accept. If the operator can't make that point to clients who get Covid on the boat, or in its defence in any potential litigation, then I think it's spineless.

You can game it any way you want, but the fact remains that you know more and others are safer if you take the test than if you don't. And the closer you take it to boarding the better. And the higher quality test (NAAT vs lateral) the better.

 

[tursiops]

Early on I worried about the "what -if" I test positive.......now I tend to think that if I have that positive test, I'll deal with it when it happens.

Exactly. Early on, a positive test was staring death in the face. Now, if you are multiply vaccinated, not so much. The virus keeps changing, the vaccinations are now changing, the goal posts and rules keep changing. One thing for sure, you are better off being vaccinated, and more testing is helpful.

 

[Joneill]

Exactly. Early on, a positive test was staring death in the face. Now, if you are multiply vaccinated, not so much. The virus keeps changing, the vaccinations are now changing, the goal posts and rules keep changing. One thing for sure, you are better off being vaccinated, and more testing is helpful.

Not to minimize the obvious impacts of Covid in certain populations, but otherwise heathy people were generally not ever “staring death in the face” with this virus.

 

[Joneill]

This is what todays traveler has to consider. In accepting the risks, we are also accepting the hassles that may go along with it in the event of a positive test. One is either willing to chance it or they are not.

It was the same for having to get a negative test before flying back into one's home country - would you be willing to isolate in a hotel room for 10 days before being allowed to fly home? Many wouldn't travel out of their country for this reason.

Early on I worried about the "what -if" I test positive.......now I tend to think that if I have that positive test, I'll deal with it when it happens.

Agreed - to me, it’s never made a lot of sense or felt truly effective to prevent spread given the timing of the required tests and the known incubation period.

However, it is what it is if you choose to travel. I’ve gone along with the theater in order to travel and taken insurance to cover the financial risks.

 

[tursiops]

Not to minimize the obvious impacts of Covid in certain populations, but otherwise heathy people were generally not ever “staring death in the face” with this virus.

I suppose one way to define "otherwise healthy" is that they survived their bout with covid?

 

[Dan]

I believe that many LOB’s require a test to avoid a breakout on the boat that ends the trip for many, if not all. It’s not at all about whether you will get sick/seriously ill or not.

I’m on Blue Manta in Raja Ampat this December and you have to do a self test 12 hours before boarding and they will test you again at boarding (antigen test).

What they say in writing & what they actually do in practice is not consistent. I just came back from Sangalaki with White Manta. I did the test, brought extra test kits just in case I needed. By the time we were on the boat, no crew, even CD / DM asking about my test result. In the end we were all fine. No one get sick. It’s like in pre-Covid.

I’m going to Cocos next week. Undersea Hunter liveaboard ask me to take PCR test 2 days before boarding and Antigen test the day of boarding despite of Costa Rica require no Covid test if we are vaccinated. So it varies depending on the liveaboard company.

Similarly in Mexico. The government don’t require you to be Covid tested, but Nautilus liveaboard require you to take it & will test you before boarding. There were some guests denied boarding due to tested positive.

 

[Joneill]

What they say in writing & what they actually do in practice is not consistent. I just came back from Sangalaki with White Manta. I did the test, brought extra test kits just in case I needed. By the time we were on the boat, no crew, even CD / DM asking about my test result. In the end we were all fine. No one get sick. It’s like in pre-Covid.

I’m going to Cocos next week. Undersea Hunter liveaboard ask me to take PCR test 2 days before boarding and Antigen test the day of boarding despite of Costa Rica require no Covid test if we are vaccinated. So it varies depending on the liveaboard company.

Similarly in Mexico. The government don’t require you to be Covid tested, but Nautilus liveaboard requires you to take it & will test you before boarding. There were some guests were denied boarding due to tested positive.

Thanks, Dan - good to hear first hand accounts.

 

[waterone]

OK, my plan was to take a flight from London to Puerto Vallarta, then on to Los Cabos via Mexico City. Then a couple of days at Los Cabos before getting on the liveaboard. The operators say:

"ALL GUESTS ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW PROOF OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST TAKEN WITHIN 72 HOURS BEFORE
BOARDING"

I would get the test in Cabos. I understand that it takes 3-5 days after exposure before you test positive. So my test in Cabos is effective to check that I haven't caught it off the few dozen people I may have met in the days before leaving London. But nothing is done for the far greater risk that I might have caught if from any of the thousands of people I will have passed when flying. That's the same for all guests on the boat. Our trips are being put in jeopardy to give us negligible protection in face of bigger risks that we readily accept. If the operator can't make that point to clients who get Covid on the boat, or in its defence in any potential litigation, then I think it's spineless.

 

[tursiops]

There were some guests denied boarding due to tested positive.

So the system DOES help, it is not just theatre.

 

[Boarderguy]

So the system DOES help, it is not just theatre.

It is theater by means of making them "feel" safer. How many are testing negative 1-2 days prior but don't have the viral load to test positive yet? They breeze through onto the boat and then expose the rest of the ship. Covid is a non issue unless you have a form of immune deficiency or have had your immune system shattered due to cancer regardless of vaccination status. This isn't 2.5 years ago when it was causing 2 weeks of walking death. Now it is a mild cold for all classes.

Back on topic... buy trip insurance and keep all your receipts for the trip. If you end up with coldvid then jump through the hoops and make a claim.

If the tests are self administered take one at home and keep it in a pocket. Show them the stick if asked.