Cozumel Drift - Special Edition
|
|
Hey there Amigo !
- we are missing you !
Roberta's Scuba Shack
Dive ECO-cozumel
Village Tan Kah
Blue Bubble Divers
|
Hola Amigo !
The time is almost here.... and guess what, we have a tropical depression over us today. And now the port is closed. Can you believe it?? When it rains, it pours - literally!
Yes, you read that correctly... the port is closed. Now, you may be thinking... well, the port has been closed since this pandemic started right? Well, actually, the port was never closed. There was a "stay in your marina" order specifically for the boats. So, technically speaking, the port was open, but the boats were not allowed to go out. Now, the port is closed due to the storm. Even the ferries were suspended today for a while. From Cristobal, we have had lots of rain and wind, a bunch downed trees and tree branches, a few places were without electricity for a while. But other than that, we are all good. Wet, but good. Not like the Yucatan, that has had a ton of flooding !
|
|
Well almost. Technically, it will be in another 15 days but we are almost there. And what happens in summer.... turtles ! They have begun coming ashore to lay their eggs. Apparently, it is going to be a very busy year. There are already over 300 nests that have been marked. Which is ALOT considering the date. Guess the turtles don't know anything about stay at home orders.... ha ha ha!
|
|
|
|
You know, d
iving with sea turtles is one of the greatest pleasures a scuba diver can experience. They are so beautiful and graceful.... and can swim against the current like it is nothing. Kind of reminds me of Doris.....
Do you know how many different kinds of turtles there are? Or how to tell the differnce? Well find out with the very intersting article on turtles.....
|
|
Mexico has a new system that is an indicator for everyone as to the status of Covid in each state. It is based on a stoplight - red, yellow and green which is easy for everyone to understand. Quintana Roo in particular, has created its own stoplight, separate and apart from the Mexican one, which utilizes 4 colors, with the addition of orange. Can you guess where? Exactly - right between red and yellow. It shows the different areas of the state. Each area will be assigned a color on a weekly basis, so that everyone will know what the situation is, and how it will affect our business operations. If you look to the bottom of the picture, all the different business catagories are listed, with diving (Buceo) the very last line. To the right are the allowable capacities, depending on the Covid situation. For both hotels and scuba diving, they have designated the following capacities:
RED - 30 %
ORANGE
- 40 %
YELLOW
- 60 %
GREEN - 100 %
|
|
|
In the mean time, we are waiting for it to begin as there is nothing open to tourists. June 1 marked the day that more people began going back to work (30% daily), to prepare their businesses - hotels, dive shops, restaurants; to train the staff in the "new normal", install necessary stations, gels, etc. All getting ready for the big grand opening. We do still have curfew. But there have been no new cases of Covid for the last 5 days. We are holding fast with 46 cases.
|
|
Do you feel like it is getting more difficult to get here? I agree with you. It sure is. Delta has pulled their operations out of Cozumel. Who knows
IF
they might return. Sun Country has suspended operations. And since they are not selling any plane tickets further out than Oct 2020, we can't know yet if they will indeed be returning to Cozumel for the peak season. We think they might... be we don't know for sure. Also, both Air Canada and West Jet have suspended their flights to Cozumel. Air Canada might be returning in June, but that is not for sure. Frontier has no dates scheduled when they will resume service.
In the mean time, there are 2 options for arriving to Cozumel.
2 - Fly to Cancun via American, United, Delta (beginning Jun 26, possibly earlier), Southwest (beginning Jul 3).
These are the only options. I don't believe that there will be any additional airlines coming into Cozumel this summer.... NOR before Nov, 2020. So if you want to fly direct, you will have to fly American or United or Sun Country. If you have tickets on another airline that is no longer flying here, you have the right to a refund. I know, they want you to keep it on credit. And if you fly them often, great, but they are required to return your money. I have no idea how many hoops it will take, but it can be done.
|
|
No Travel restriction from Mexico
|
If you check the list of countries on the CDC website, you will see a long list of countries that... if you have been to them in the last 14 days, you are unable to enter back into the US. And guess what - Mexico IS NOT ON THAT LIST !!!!!!
|
|
Yeah, well the port is currently closed. And with good reason, today it is quite rough out there....
We have been informed that the port will open when the island opens, and that is scheduled for Monday, Jun 8. To some degree. The Harbor Master gave use 1 day notice when they gave the stay at home orders for the boats. If you have ever been here during a Norte, you know how informative the Harbor Master can be. Or not... I anticipate that they will let us know from 1 day to the next, that we can depart.
|
|
If you missed it last week, here is the info on the Covid-19 virus and water -
CLICK HERE.
This is another great article, but it is only in Spanish -
CLICK HERE
|
|
This whole situation is a game changer for everything about life, how we live, and also, how we travel. Airlines and hotels are becoming much easier to deal with. Did you see this meme?
|
|
Hysterical right? But one good thing coming from this situation is the fact that cancellation fees are non-existent now. They WANT your business, and a way to keep you flying with them. So that is a good thing.
But what it also means is flexibility. On everyone's part. For them, easier and no cost changes. For us as travelers, it means that we won't have as many options for flights, unfortunately. It may mean we have longer layovers, and possibly take our own food.
It might also mean that our plans might change at the last minute. If for some reason there is a spike in Covid, your plans may change. If it is in your hometown or along your travel route, it might affect your travel plans. If it happens here, it might affect your travel plans. Patience and flexibility are a must now in our "NEW TRAVEL NORM". All sides have to be aware of that and work with it.
That also means, we have to not be afraid to make plans. They can be changed, your money can be refunded.... I wonder how understanding your employers will be with switching at the last minute. That is another aspect that needs to have patience and understanding as well.
More than anything, we want you to be safe, and healthy, and happy, and coming back here for along time for many, many MORE dives !
|
|
And just so that you don't forget, here are some beautiful images to enjoy !
|
|
We hope to see you and your family soon, so that we can make many more great memories!
|
|
Thank you for joining us for another fun filled newsletter. We are working hard to be ready and waiting for you for the summer. And I am sure that you are working hard at being patient... and waiting to plan your next trip to visit. We look forward to seeing you soon !
|
GRACIAS !
Hasta Luego Amigo !
Roberta and all of the staff of Scuba Shack and the Village Tan Kah
|
|
|
Roberta's Scuba Shack
+52.987.872.4240 - Phone
+521.987.114-3568 - Cell and WhatsApp
|
|
|
Village Tan Kah
+52.987.872.4240 - Phone
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
