NEW NORMAL PRACTICES
The following practices are based on the World Health Organization (WHO), Divers Alert Network (DAN), PADI, and International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines. Compliance is mandatory when you board Sea Safari Cruises ships. Please call or email our support desk with any questions or concerns.
General Measures for Guests and Crew
- Comply with standard infection protection and control precautions related to hygiene:
- Hand-washing using the 20-second hand-washing rule with hot water and soap
- Use of hand-sanitizer
- Avoid touching your face, particularly eyes, nose, mouth with your hands to prevent from getting infected
- Cough/sneeze into the bend of your elbow
- If you use a tissue, discard of it properly and wash/sanitize your hands immediately
- Avoid close contact with anyone who is or appears unwell or shows COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc.)
- Maintain a WHO recommended social distance of at least 1 metre between yourself and others
- Wear a mask in all public areas
- Avoid shaking hands, do not share food, drink, utensils etc.
- Cleaning routine will be increased by our crew especially on high contact, high frequency touch areas (door knobs, counters, tables, chairs, etc.)
- Thorough disinfecting procedures will be applied between trips
- Hand sanitizer will be placed in various locations throughout the vessel (dive deck, restaurant, doorways to enter)
- Self-monitor your health condition. Immediately report any sickness symptoms to the Cruise Director
- COVID-19 questionnaire is to be filled by guests prior to the trip
- Crew have been trained and are aware of the preventive measures
Preboarding Guidelines: before you leave your place of residence
- Be sure to monitor your health before leaving to travel to join us on the ship
- Check your temperature twice daily and keep records for 7 days before travel and inform us if you show any symptoms
- Inform us if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or show any symptoms before leaving to travel to join the ship
- Make arrangements to bring the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) sufficient to cover the period of travel to the ship
- Guests are encouraged to bring their own diving or snorkelling equipment if possible (mask/snorkel at a minimum).
Practices while at the airport or on the aircraft
- Arrange transportation to/from the airport that minimizes contact with other people, such as trusted private provider
- Avoid using public transportation
- Wear PPE as instructed for the duration of travel as far as practicable (e.g. mask and gloves, etc.)
- Carry and handle your own luggage to the extent possible
- Keep all relevant documents required for travel, in a bag or compartment that can be easily accessed to be disinfected later
- Maintain social distancing onboard the flight when possible, and sit with appropriate seat spacing, as arranged by the airline or cabin crew on board the aircraft
- Limit exposure to aircraft crew during in-flight service and other passengers when using the facilities when possible
Local hotel stays
- Pay special attention to social distancing, hygiene and PPE requirements at the hotel
- Maintain temperature checks twice daily and keeping a record
- Continue to handle your own luggage at the hotel
- Consider declining daily room cleaning service
Prior to boarding one of our ships
- Properly dispose of any single-use PPE used during travel (only that which cannot be washed/disinfected)
- We will provide complimentary health checks before boarding (e.g. having your temperature taken at the time of embarkation, reviewing mandatory temperature records, being tested for COVID-19 if suitable test kits are available, etc.)
- Please wear a mask in all public spaces
- We will arrange for disinfection of your luggage and dive gear
Onboard our ships
Practice shipboard self-distancing (SSD), as far as possible, that might include:
- Avoiding all non-essential contact or close proximity with others on board
- All spaces on the ships including your cabin will have been disinfected with vital oxide application
- Staggered meal service, dive and safety briefings, dive times
- Please wear a mask in all public spaces
- Option to decline or limit daily room cleaning service
- Use the designated space for your equipment
Diving Activities
- Guests are encouraged to bring their own dive gear
- Limited number of guests on the dive deck at one time
- Tender boat limit of 5 guests per boat
- Guests and crew to wash their hands (or sanitize if hand washing is not readily available) before touching the cylinder valves and regulator connections during assembly and disassembly
- Guests assemble and disassemble their own equipment
- No more wash basins for dive gear. There will be one basin for cameras and crew will rinse, using running water, then place camera on wet camera table
- Dive equipment to be decontaminated after each use according to DAN guidelines, and decontaminated equipment should be kept separate from other equipment.
- Any materials not needed for the dive operations or safety reasons should not be taken on board
- Maintain at least 2 metres of distance when clearing your nose, sinuses, or throat at the surface or after a dive
- Maintain social distancing when you get back on board (2 metres distance where possible)
- Use defogging products to defog mask, the use of saliva is discouraged.
- Buddy Checks conducted visually, avoid touching other diver’s equipment and do not test breath alternate air sources. Self-demonstrate and verbally confirm the steps in a buddy check
- Out of air emergencies: in cases of an emergency or during training, it is recommended that divers use alternate air source and avoid donating the regulator to others unless necessary
Restaurant Service
- No more self-service buffet. Buffet will still be served and our restaurant staff will assist
- All common areas will be utilized during meal times. Sun decks and lounges will be prepared as dining areas
Preventive Action Plan
Suspected infected crew/guest will commence an immediate isolation to a private area/cabin. The patient will be provided with a medical mask and should remain isolated until transferred to an appropriate health facility.
Disembarkation
Maintain self-distancing with other people and don’t forget to remain hygienic.
As the situation with COVID-19 evolves, we will continue to adapt and improve the measures we are taking.