Cozumel what to expect now

[cvchief]

No I'm saying the original discussion about the health of the reef and bull shark dives in this thread was hijacked by yet another discussion about Covid.

Sorry, I just reread the OP's post and he/she does ask about any changes in dealing with the pandemic. I apologize for getting a bit snarky.

First, if you didn't get a little snarky, I couldn't get a little snarky and what fun would that be?

Second, I think I would rather talk COVID than talk about the dead hard coral from that run of SCTLD....

 

[cvchief]

While you can only hope that they get your email address exactly right.

Maybe you need to worry about that a one of your discount places?

If they get your email right.

If it didn't show up the same day, I would have just called to check. But after 4 or so tests and I imagine they will continue to do a perfect job.

Why so slow?

So you satisfy you, I went back and checked. I took the photo at 5 and had the results at 7. Forgot we spent a while post dive at Money Bar that day. Ok, who am I kidding that's every dive day....

It was a little gray that day and that guy looks like he's got warrants.

Little surprised with your testing focus, that you don't want to use one of the top hospitals?
I guess if that hole in the wall testing service doesn't catch it, CVS will when you come home, right?

 

[Kimela]

Thanks for all the info guys. So how does the test work to leave coz and go back to the us? Within three days you stop by a hospital and get swabbed? How long does it take, do you need an appt and how much does it cost? And how quick are the results? My gf last time needed a prescription filled and I thought that hospital downtown was pretty decent

When we completed the VeriFly app for American it asked if we had a printed copy of our results. We couldn't complete the app without saying "yes", but nobody ever asked for that printed copy. That was in July. We did go back to the International Hospital the next day for a printed copy, just in case. I didn't want to take the chance that if we didn't have it, that's when they'd want it. They had our results ready in less than an hour. We could have waited or gone to get a drink and come back for it. When we've gotten our test at the Palace (when we were staying there) they printed the results before we left the room. So it will vary, depending on who does your test.

 

[DeltaWardog]

They want the passport to MAKE SURE they match your name correctly on the test.

They will accept a driver's license at the Intl Hospital, at least they did for me. I walked in to get my test last week not realizing I'd need my passport, so didn't have it on me. They just asked if my name was exactly the same on my license and passport, and were OK with doing the test at that point. But yeah, probably better to bring it just in case.

To add my 2 cents for the OP, having just returned from a 2 week trip, I think Cozumel is in great shape. The restaurants are open and uncrowded, the reef looked fantastic on all my dives, and if it wasn't for the masks, temperature checks, and lack of lionfish on the reef I would have thought I was back in 2010. Take precautions and adjust your expectations for certain things and you'll be fine. For example I did not go across on the ferry to do any cenotes dives this time because I'd heard the ferry situation is still a nightmare. But if you can adjust to things like that you'll have a great time.

 

[DandyDon]

They will accept a driver's license at the Intl Hospital, at least they did for me. I walked in to get my test last week not realizing I'd need my passport, so didn't have it on me. They just asked if my name was exactly the same on my license and passport, and were OK with doing the test at that point. But yeah, probably better to bring it just in case.

The PP information page is one of the photos I keep on my phone.

 

[cvchief]

They will accept a driver's license at the Intl Hospital, at least they did for me. I walked in to get my test last week not realizing I'd need my passport, so didn't have it on me. They just asked if my name was exactly the same on my license and passport, and were OK with doing the test at that point. But yeah, probably better to bring it just in case.

Well in fairness I didnt bring mine either, but they wanted to make sure that the test matched the PP exactly so an over zealous check in agent didnt have an issue.

To add my 2 cents for the OP, having just returned from a 2 week trip, I think Cozumel is in great shape. The restaurants are open and uncrowded, the reef looked fantastic on all my dives, and if it wasn't for the masks, temperature checks, and lack of lionfish on the reef I would have thought I was back in 2010. Take precautions and adjust your expectations for certain things and you'll be fine. For example I did not go across on the ferry to do any cenotes dives this time because I'd heard the ferry situation is still a nightmare. But if you can adjust to things like that you'll have a great time.

We did the ferry both ways in Sept. Come to Coz was a little full but not packing. Going back wasn't bad. Both were running late. I did 'find' a decent sized lion fish and a couple small ones.

 

[ggunn]

Thanks for all the info guys. So how does the test work to leave coz and go back to the us? Within three days you stop by a hospital and get swabbed? How long does it take, do you need an appt and how much does it cost? And how quick are the results? My gf last time needed a prescription filled and I thought that hospital downtown was pretty decent

You will get a variety of answers as to the best way to approach this, but in my case the hotel arranged for a mobile testing tech to come to the lobby and take a sample. The lab emailed the hotel with my results (negative) the next day and a printout was waiting for me at the front desk when I returned from my morning dives. It cost ~US$30 and about 5 minutes out of my vacation.

 

[cvchief]

@ggunn There are a million options for sure! Including a house call spit guy I think. I bet every hotel has a side deal someplace to get you tested too.

I know international has a mobile testing thing too, but am I gonna be down for an hour each dive or an hour and a half? Am I gonna drink 2 or 3 margs at lunch? I don't know, so I like testing spontaneously. I avoid appointments like the plague.

 

[jomcclain]

Hello all. I'm thinking about going to coz this Dec. Anything new on covid restrictions or any reef closings due to that white coral deal? Anyone been there lately? Just looking for things to know that are good and bad these days. Also, is the bullshark dive still a thing in playa d? I was there during the pandemic and it was quite sad seeing all of the shops closed and people desperate for the tourist money to come back. Are the shops doing ok and are things open? Thanks bunches

I’m on my way back from Cozumel. Only spent 4 days of diving there, but I was saddened by loss of sea life. Sea fans are gone. Only saw one nurse shark. No green morays. 2 spotted morays. The only squirrel fish I saw were some juveniles at the dock, none on the reef. No large brain corals left, though I saw what I think may have been little ones trying to get started. No nudibranches. Dramatic decrease in total number of fish compared to a few years ago.

 

[flyboy08]

I’m on my way back from Cozumel. Only spent 4 days of diving there, but I was saddened by loss of sea life. Sea fans are gone. Only saw one nurse shark. No green morays. 2 spotted morays. The only squirrel fish I saw were some juveniles at the dock, none on the reef. No large brain corals left, though I saw what I think may have been little ones trying to get started. No nudibranches. Dramatic decrease in total number of fish compared to a few years ago.

Who did you dive with?