INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO THE CDC'S US RESIDENT TESTING TO RETURN TO THE US:
updated Mar 27, 2021
FROM THE US TO CABO/SOCORRO:
- Local authorities require a PCR OR ANTIGEN test WITHIN 7 DAYS of arrival to Cabo. (This is for the govt)
- You must also have a daily 7 day temperature log as well. More details coming soon on how to log & do this) (This is for the boat)
FROM SOCORRO TO THE US:
On Jan 12th the CDC announced that starting Jan 26th anyone entering the US must pass either a rapid/antigen test or a PCR test within 72 hrs of travel to the US and produce a 'negative' result.
SingleDivers.com had prior to this received NO advance warning nor had other travel suppliers that this was coming down the pike. We immediately reached out to our Roatan supplier for whom we were traveling too Jan 23-30th as well as our Cozumel supplier for whom we were traveling to Feb 20-27, 2021. Each of them said the same thing....
- No problem we are all set up. WHAT? How can that be? Did you get advance warning? Their reply was "NO" but Canada started requiring the same thing 3 weeks earlier so they knew we would do it sooner or later so they were already set up.
- The testing is done either at your hotel or on the boat or in a nearby med clinic/facility. You can do either test and the results are returned to you in one day. FOR SOCORRO IT IS ON THE BOAT.
- The cost is USUALLY anywhere from $45-$125 for the test. Roatan was $63, Cozumel is $45 SOCORRO IS FREE etc. We do not know the final price for every island yet but its always in this range. A few higher end properties are including the fee in their pricing but you basically paid for it paying more in the first place.
- When you get to the airport you fill out a form and show the negative covid test at the departure airport. In the case of Roatan on Jan 30th and Feb 2, 2021....the test was NEVER ASKED FOR AGAIN. No additional online forms were required and no one in the US asked about the test or the form you filled out. (This may change but for now this is how its being rolled out. If it changes we will advise you.)
- And that's it...its simple...easier than getting the test in the US and compliance was a breeze.
Since this is an evolving matter we will keep you updated as we learn more and/or procedures evolve. 
3-27-21 SOCORRO UPDATE:
Guests flying back to the US from Mexico are required to have a negative test for COVID-19. To ensure this doesn’t impact your trip, we are working with the local hospital to provide testing on the boat prior to disembarking. We will cover the costs of this test, and results will be available within two hours, ensuring no delays in you getting home. You can find more information about the testing process below.
If you require a PCR test instead of the antigen test, we will cover the cost up to the amount of the antigen test and are happy to book everything for you. Your safety comes paramount and we have strict COVID-19 precautions in place to ensure you can travel safely, and happily.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
We provide complimentary but required antigen testing before boarding any overnight trip. For liveaboard dive boat guests, please be at SeeCreatures in the Tesoro Hotel by 4 p.m. on boarding day. A medical technician will carry out the testing. It can be quite busy between testing and maintaining social distancing. Please don’t be late! And please don’t worry if your airline flight is delayed or it’s a late arrival… Call or what’s app us and we will help arrange for you to go to the hospital for testing on the way in from the airport.
FAQsYes, PCR or antigen test is required within 7 days of boarding your trip. We will be providing complimentary antigen testing before boarding. This is required for your safety and that of our crew. If you test positive in Cabo, we will arrange for a medical diagnosis and if the virus is active, you are required by law to go into 14 day quarantine.
If you test positive for Covid, please get an immediate medical evaluation and diagnosis. You will not be permitted to board the vessel, or the chartered airplane for San Ignacio trips.
If you test positive prior to your departure and you provide us with a medical evaluation, we will transfer your monies paid to a trip within 1 year from the original departure date. Guests will be responsible for their own medical and quarantine costs. Medical and travel insurance is highly recommended.
Post-trip testing is not mandatory for Nautilus nor Mexico but it is mandatory for the US. For liveaboard guests who need or would like to be tested after the trip, we offer complimentary antigen testing with a 2 hour turnaround as an additional service at our expense. PCR testing can be arranged at a subsidized cost.
We are not permitted to do the testing at the airport FBO on incoming flights from the lagoon. those clients will find it easiest to attend the test lab at terminal 2.
PCR tests typically take 36-48 hours to receive the results. We recommend taking a PCR test before leaving home, but we are only conducting antigen tests prior to the trip as results come back within 2 hours.
Medical staff from the hospital will be at SeeCreatures at 4 pm to carry out the testing before your departure. Guests need to be at SeeCreatures by 4 pm on the day of boarding for liveaboards. It will take a bit of time to conduct the testing while keeping everyone socially distanced, so being there on time is important in order to get the lab results back before the ship sails.
Medical staff will attend liveaboards at 8 am on the morning of arrival in port to conduct testing for guests returning home.
Mexico is open. Flights into Cabo San Lucas are open. Socorro Island, the Sea of Cortez and San Ignacio Lagoon are open. We are open and operating with extreme caution during the virus crisis.
Our approach has been collaborative with government including parks, port captain and the Mexican navy. We have heavily invested in crew training, equipment and measures to keep everyone onboard as safe as possible which includes the development of a 60 page virus protocol document that we have trained on and shared with government officials along with our ideas on processes and procedures. That type of thinking and understanding of our commitment to everyone’s safety is what led to the decision of the local port captain to issue our departure clearances.
Our guests can expect that life onboard is different than it was before on many levels. But we still want to have fun and go diving!! Our top priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. Please call or email for more detailed information.
Edited by WreckWench, 27 March 2021 - 12:42 PM.
