Important updates about COVID testing
The Cozumel Drift
Cozumel has your COVID testing needs covered!
Greetings!

As you know, if you are returning to either Canada or the US, it is now required that you have a negative COVID test BEFORE you will be allow to board a plane. This requirement takes affect for the US beginning Tue, Jan 26, 2021. If you are traveling to Canada, Brazil and a couple of other countries, it is already required.

If you are worried, don't be. We have got all of your testing needs covered. There have been some recent important updates to this program that we want to pass along. If you missed the last info, you can view that HERE
  • First and foremost, we are happy to schedule your test for you. Whether you are staying with us at the Village Tan Kah, or diving with Scuba Shack, we are more than happy to get that scheduled for you, around your diving schedule.
  • Which test is required? Antigen is sufficient for the US, most other countries are requiring a PCR test. Cozumel offers both.
  • There are a number of locations to get your test completed, both in town as well as right by Village Tan Kah/Scuba Shack. A dedicated testing site has been established close to here, and is just a short walk from us. It is by appointment only and we will schedule the appointment for you after you have finished diving that day.
  • We have negotiated a discount for the antigen test - $ 600 pesos pp. About $ 32 USD with the current exchange rate. You do have to book with us to get that rate.
  • If you are not staying at the Village Tan Kah, please check with your hotel. I have heard that other hotels are offering on site testing, discounts, free tests... so check with your hotel to see what they are offering.
  • The local pharmacies are also offering the test, for $ 350 pesos pp. But you will have to take a taxi to and from there.
If you want more detailed information, click the button below to be taken to our COVID Update page on our website. Book mark this page and check back often for updates. New information seems to be coming out daily.
There is 1 question that I would like to address - What will happen if you test positive? Well, if the test comes back positive, then you will have to quarantine until a test comes back negative. Either at the hotel/location you are staying, or at another hotel location. Check with your hotel to see what they are offering. I mean, you don't want to have Covid and contaminate the entire plane, van, etc.

If you are staying here at Village Tan Kah and have to extend your stay, you will receive a 50% discount off your hotel stay for these additional days. We are not a huge hotel and can't offer a free stay, but I want to help you as well. If you are not staying with us, please check the policy of your hotel.

Now, we all know that the antigen test can have false positives (as well as false negatives). So, if you do test positive, you will have to quarantine. My suggestion would be that if that does happen, get another test immediately - the PCR test. It appears that this test is more reliable. And if that comes negative, then you would be cleared. If you get a 2nd antigen test, and it comes back negative, they might want to get a 3rd to verify which is correct.
Now, if this seems like an awful lot of money (having to test, and then stay...), never fear. The insurance companies are finally catching up.
GREAT NEWS ABOUT TRIP INSURANCE!!
Finally, DiveAssure (www.diveassure.com) just announced they are offering travel insurance to cover COVID related expenses and issues.  THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL!!!  If you remember, at the beginning of the pandemic, just about all travel insurance companies issued statements and updates to their coverage to not cover COVID.  Some providers even stopped issuing travel insurance all together.  Here is what they are saying on their website.
  • Trip cancellation coverage if you contract the Coronavirus before
  • Coverage for Covid-19 related medical expenses while on a covered trip
  • Coverage for daily quarantine expenses if you are required to quarantine during a covered trip

Please make sure to check with DiveAssure and read all the fine print, because after all this is an insurance company. So, if you’re as anxious to get back down here as much as we are to see you, and you want to make sure all your bases are covered, I’d check out DiveAssure (www.diveassure.com) before booking.  If you’ve already booked your trip, check them out ASAP.
Roberta's Scuba Shack


+52-987-872-4240 - Phone

+521-987-114-3568 - Cell and WhatsApp
Village Tan Kah


+52-987-872-4240 - Phone