COVID-19 Updates for Scuba Divers

COVID-19 is effecting traveling scuba divers, Diving Industry and sea lovers around the world. We want to bring you the latest COVID-19 updates and considerations to keep in mind for any future or planned dive travel

Please use this blog as a way to stay informed on what is taking place in the scuba diving community right now, and always check with local authorities and government entities before determining when and if it's safe to travel or leave your home.

This page is created by Scuba Diver for Scuba Divers and diving industry members  gathering pertinent articles on travel, equipment usage and cleaning, and health guidelines. 

We are relying mainly on and linking advice from trusted sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) so that you can most easily locate the latest updates. For scuba diving information we rely mainly on resources from Professional Association of Diving Instructors PADI and Divers Alert Network DAN.

Red Sea Project Guidelines:

• Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Scuba Diving Boats (English)

• (Arabic) الوقاية من عدوي فيروس كورونا و التوصيات للحد من انتشاره علي قوارب الغوص

• Verhinderung der Verbreitung von COVID-19 auf Tauchbooten - Deutsch

• Prevenire la diffusione di COVID-19 nelle barche per immersioni subacquee - Italiano

• Prévention de la propagation du COVID-19 dans les bateaux de plongée sous-marine - Francais

Updates and Resources from WHO and CDC:

• WHO: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public

• WHO: Travel advice

• WHO: Advice on the use of masks in the context of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak

• WHO: International travel and health

• CDC: guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus

• CDC: Stop the Spread of Germs (Infographic)

• CDC: Workplace, School & Home Guidance (Infographics)

Relevant Websites & News Articles:

• [Updated Regularly, PolitiFact] All Fact-checks for Coronavirus

• [Updated Regularly, Poynter] The International Fact-Checking Network

• [Updated Regularly] Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE

• [March 12, 2020, NBC News] Coronavirus scammers are seeking to profit off the deadly virus

• reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19

• EPA's diving safety manual for its guidelines on decontaminating scuba equipment. 

• EMS: Statement on COVID-19 and Emergency Medical Care Training

• Scuba Diving Magazine: COVID-19 Updates for Scuba Divers - 

• UK National Health Service (NHS) COVID-19 Advisory Page

• UK FCO Travel Advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

•  http://divemagazine.co.uk: Travelling and Diving During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Resources from DAN - Divers Alert Network:

• DAN Encourages Divers and Dive Operators to Properly Disinfect Dive Gear

• Divers Alert Network (DAN), USA, guidelines for equipment use and disinfection

• Divers Alert Network (DAN), USA, list of all suitable cleaning products

• Alert Diver Magazine: Germophobia? - Just give it a reasonable thought 

• Alert Diver Magazine: Scuba Equipment care – Rinsing and cleaning diving equipment 

• Recommendations from DAN Europe for DAN Training Courses (in Italian - English version here)

• Dive Operations and COVID-19: Prepping for Return

• COVID-19: Surface Survival Times

• Diving After COVID-19: What We Know Today

• CPR and COVID-19

• DAN - Oxygen Units and Treating COVID-19

• COVID-19: First - Aid Training Recommendations from DAN

• Scuba Units: Not Suitable Substitutes for Ventilators

• Disinfection of Scuba Equipment and COVID-19

Resources from PADI - the Professional Association of Diving Instructors:

• Health & Safety Recommendations and Precautions

• Coming Together in Crisis

• PADI Best Practices to Reduce Transmission Risk

• Eight Simple Steps COVID-19 Risk Reduction for Divers poster

• PADI Online Marketing Toolkit -  Start Your Adventure Campaign (Authorize members only).

Social Distance for Divers:

• http://divemagazine.co.uk: Diving Related Things to Do While You Can't Go Diving

Egyptian Tourism Authority

regulations for tourism in Egypt

DIVE:

Egyptian Cabinet Announces Resumption of Flights and Tourist Activities From 1 July

If you are a member of the scuba diving community and would like to provide a COVID-19 update on your business or region, please email editor at: ahmed@redsea-project.com

Author: Ahmed Fouad