Covid Information for Turks and Caicos Explorer

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY EXPLORER VENTURES FLEET

Last Updated: 22 May 2020
New Liveaboard Diving Policies for a Post-Covid World.
In preparation for welcoming guests back to our operations in the Caribbean, Explorer Ventures will be augmenting our practices and improving on health and safety measures that address changing client expectations amidst COVID-19.

For the last 33 years, Explorer Ventures has researched, implemented and strengthened safety protocols to ensure that our guests are able to enjoy their diving vacation. In preparation for welcoming guests back to our operations in the Caribbean, the company will further augment our practices and improve on health and safety measures that address changing client expectations amidst COVID-19. The following information is based on what we know today - but best practices and the information on which they are based change rapidly, and we intend for our plans to be fluid enough to accommodate new information. We will continue to monitor the latest trends and will adapt our operations and this document based on new insights and our experiences, and refine this plan not only in the Caribbean but in Galapagos and with our other partners worldwide.

Sustainable operations are always at the forefront of our minds, and where possible we're sourcing suitable cleaning agents that are either environmentally friendly or can be neutralized prior to disposal. Environmental consciousness is at the heart of what we do but keeping everyone safe takes precedence for the time being for obvious reasons!

As of this writing (May 2020), it seems likely that travelling will require some level of health screening which may occur at airports, gate check-in, or arrival at your destination. While ideally, such screening will give us a high degree of confidence that our arriving guests are COVID free, we will be prepared if such (relative) clarity doesn't exist in order to safeguard our guests and crew.

Depending on availability and testing required enroute, we may ask that incoming guests have a recent COVID test in order to board. Fast tests are becoming more available, and some airlines and travel destinations are beginning to perform testing before boarding or on arrival. We are attempting to source tests that can be performed weekly on at a minimum the crew of each vessel, as well.

Our crew members have been working hard to prepare for our guests' arrival. Our new operational protocols will include several pre-emptive cleanliness measures that affect the guest's journey from arrival to departure, including additional health and well-being requirements across all points of contact on the vessels.

Crew cleaning Caribbean Explorer II | Explorer Ventures Fleet
Crew are being trained in appropriate Covid-19 cleaning and disinfection procedures from accredited organizations.

COVID-19 CLEANING & DISINFECTION POLICIES:

A Pre-travel questionnaire/assessment is being developed for all our guests to complete that will give our crews and our other guests added confidence in their health at the time of boarding.
Operational Evaluation: We have completed an assessment of points of guest contact, resulting in the integration of hygiene practices across key points - starting from the moment guests arrive at the gangway through the entirety of their onboard vacation experience. These points include the salons, guest rooms, galley, food and beverage experiences, housekeeping and laundry, public bathrooms, dive deck and dive platform.
Crew are being trained in appropriate Covid-19 cleaning and disinfection procedures from accredited organizations.
Cleaning, disinfection and sanitation will be repeated multiple times daily, with a minimum of three inspections daily. These inspections and targeted cleaning steps include hard surfaces such as door handles and handrails and include public restrooms, salon tables, and chairs as well as other high-touch surfaces.
Interior areas of the vessels will be fogged regularly with disinfectant.
Daily room cleaning and service will be done with gloves and mask and will be stressed as optional if guests would prefer not to have others in their room at all. As always, staterooms are cleaned thoroughly between charters. Additional hand sanitizing stations will be provided for guests and crew members throughout the vessels.
The guest dining experience will be modified to limit contact points of normal buffet service. Servers will wear gloves and masks during all meal services. Any guest who chooses not to eat with the group in the salon may have the meal served on the sun deck. Guests will be asked to wash hands before meals.
Guest welcome and daily briefings will include reminders on best practices for avoiding illness, if necessary.
Social Distancing Practices will be encouraged so that guests maintain a safe social distance whenever possible while sustaining the relaxed experience our trips are known for. This will include spacing guests out on the dive deck as much as possible, asking that guests keep control of regulators and masks on the way to the exits and on the way to their lockers upon returning from their dives, and replacing handshakes with a nod and a smile.
To help ensure that all team members stay healthy, all staff will be required to wear face masks during check-in, when screening guest temperatures, during meal service, when off the vessel and at other times as may be necessary. We will encourage guests to do the same as far as is practical and will have masks made from recycled ocean plastics available on board.
Precautionary temperature and oxygen checks for both crew and guests may be done daily or per current recommendations.
Vendors and suppliers will be required to have minimal physical contact, and we will sanitize all touchpoints, including equipment, and remove all outer packing upon arrival.
We are working with our shore support companies to ensure that transfers are done in accordance with new recommendations for cleanliness and decontamination. For tours, where that is not possible, certain stops may be eliminated or the tour eliminated altogether. The Friday night dinners ashore will be planned to accommodate new cleanliness expectations.
Mask rinse tanks are being eliminated in favor of running water rinses.
Gear rinse tanks will be treated to avoid cross-contamination of dive gear.
Our dive towel system is being reviewed to limit the potential for cross-contamination.
Rental gear availability may be limited by the availability of appropriate sanitizing agents
As always, careful cleaning and sanitizing of linens and towels is a priority
In addition, we are considering the feasibility of altering our operations in certain ways to increase the space between guests at mealtimes, on the dive deck and during briefings.

WHAT WILL THIS ALL MEAN?

Some of these altered procedures may temporarily impact the level of customer service, guest interaction and accommodation for which the Explorer Ventures Fleet is known. While each vessel and operation is different, some challenges are universal and our vessels have room for only a certain number of crew and guests. These additional crew responsibilities may limit their time available with guests. While our goal remains to deliver an exceptionally good experience to every guest, returning to diving will require flexibility on the part of both guests and crew.

We can't wait to start DIVING with you again!

Country Covid Travel Information

Turks and Caicos Islands are exempt from the FCO advice against all non-essential international travel. This is based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.

From July 22nd 2020, all travelers to the Turks and Caicos Islands will be required to visit the TCI Assured Travel Authorization Portal in order to obtain a travel authorization for arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Any travellers arriving to the Turks and Caicos Islands must have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test from a reputable facility at least 5 days before departure, proof of health/travel insurance with COVID-19 cover and must complete a health screening questionnaire.

All visitors will be required to wear masks on arrival to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

All travelers will be subject to screening and temperature checks upon arrival which may result in further clinical examination.

Please visit the TCI Assured Travel Authorization Portal for the latest information about travelling to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

You may not have to self-isolate when you arrive in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, when you are travelling home from Turks and Caicos.

Last Updated: 17JUL2020