COVID-19 and Diving in Asia
DIVING IN YOUR
BACKYARD
Egypt
UAE Oman
SOUTH ASIA Page 28
WEST ASIA Page 32
India
Maldives
The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked the world , forcing cities into lockdown and closing national borders .
Sri Lanka
From the onset of the pandemic , water sports such as scuba diving have been severely restricted or banned entirely in order to curb the spread of the virus . Ever since , the dive community has waited with bated breath for news that diving – both local and overseas – can resume .
More than a year after the pandemic changed the way we live , vaccines against the virus are being rolled out and things are finally looking up .
Slowly but surely , various countries are loosening their restrictions , and divers are getting back in the water . While most countries are still not permitting entry to foreign travellers , diving locally is becoming possible again , albeit with strict protocols in place . So , while waiting for international borders to reopen , we consider the options you have for diving in your backyard waters , and the new guidelines that are in place to ensure safe and enjoyable dives .
4 | SDAA