The Lobster Pot Dive Center

It’s now been a year since Mike and Steve re-branded The Lobster Pot Dive Operation into Just Dive Cayman. If you haven’t already done so, please switch your following and continue the adventure with us.

Don’t forget to switch to a new page Just Dive all future posts will be there.

You can also check out our new website @ justdivecayman.com

Look forward to welcoming you on board the future is to Just Dive!!

Something was nagging Mike....we have been here a month, and we haven't even told you about it yet! He will argue that he has been rather busy!

Excuses out of the way...we have a new home!

Located in the heart of George Town (opposite Hard Rock Cafe), we now call the old Atlantis Submarine building our base of operations.

To prove it is us, we have put signs up, parked our trailers and vans there, and even use the dock! All your favourite tee shirts, rash guards and other funky things are also inside, so hurry in and see us!

Oh, and please stay tuned for some even more exciting news in the upcoming days! (although if you follow us on Instagram, you'll already know! Apparently that is where all the cool kids hang out nowadays. Do we have to get a TikTok too?)

No more post-arrival testing for vaccinated travellers as of tomorrow....Friday 18th!

Hmm...we probably could have come up with a snappier headline, but we thought that it was more important to get this up and posted as soon as possible!

Hopefully you'll be able to get in to read the Compass article (sometimes they are hidden behind paywalls) but here are the important points:

- the lifting of the requirement for arriving travellers to carry out lateral flow tests on day 2, 5 and 7 after their arrival in Cayman HOWEVER tourists and travellers will still be required to provide evidence of a pre-departure negative COVID test.

-Unvaccinated travellers will still be required to quarantine, for 7 rather than 10 days. They will be able to be released from isolation on the basis of consecutive negative lateral flow tests on days 6 and 7, rather than requiring a negative PCR test, which is more sensitive and takes longer to achieve.

This is some great news! There is nothing to stop us taking you diving now - apart from the fact that only Mike and Steve are here now you probably preferred the rest of the LPDC crew over us two 😜

Cayman drops post-arrival COVID testing for vaccinated travellers Vaccinated travellers will no longer face multiple COVID tests in the Cayman Islands after government announced it was ditching the unpopular measure.

As we start seeing our returning guests making their way back to dive with us, we are hearing this question a lot.

Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, we made the decision to protect the business and leave our old premises, and have no affiliation with the dive company that has taken over our old stomping ground.

Although we are no longer in there, we are still operating, doing all of those amazing diving things with the usual wit, charm and friendly nature that you all fell in love with (hey, we must have been doing something right for you to all come back!)

So just call or whatsapp us on +1 345 936 8685
Or email us on [email protected]

We miss you all and want to see you again!

Well, that plan to be well and truly open by November didn't really come to pass...

Rising numbers, new variants, the strict testing regimes put in place for tourists by the Cayman Government - all have contributed to not seeing as many of your lovely faces as we had hoped!

However, we are still thankful to be pretty busy at what is traditionally a busy time of year.

To anyone on island who may have come back to visit, walked by our old premises and wondered where we are...maybe checked out our page to see what was going on - Don't worry! Your favourite dive shop is still running and operating!

Email us on [email protected]
Call or whatsapp us on +1 345 936 8685

We can't wait to get you back in the water!

Could it be? Could it really be?

We are pinching ourselves here at LPDC Headquarters. We may FINALLY have some good news to share with you all for the first time in 18 months!

We are pleased to announce that the CI Govt are moving to Phase 4 of our re-opening plan on the 20th November 2021!

Yes, you read that correctly....NOVEMBER 20th!

But what does Phase 4 mean?

FULLY VACCINATED travellers will be able to come and visit us WITHOUT NEEDING TO QUARANTINE!
(please forgive the caps..we are rather excited!)

Please do not hesitate to email us:
[email protected]

Or call: +1 345 936 8685

Or message us here or on WhatsApp

..and we will do our best to help and get you diving with us again soon!!

Dive Cayman 2022!!

We must apologise for our lack of activity on our page and realise that many of you will look to us for information regarding the reopening of our borders so that you can join us once again for some more fantastic dive experiences. Unfortunately, we have not had a lot of information to share.

As many of you will now know, the CI Government plan to move to Phase 4 in October was recently put on hold due to a small Covid-19 outbreak (the first in well over a year) and the announcement made that our borders will continue to be effectively closed until next year. We hadn't posted anything until now in the hope (wishful thinking?) that they may reconsider.

It has been heartbreaking to have to inform our stay-over guests that we cannot honour their bookings made for the end of this year, and to our cruise ship guests who have been assured by their cruise companies that their ships are coming to Cayman that this will not be the case.

However, hope is in sight and we want to be your first port of call for diving in 2022!

Despite our latest setback, Cayman is likely to remain as one of the safest countries in the world, with a roughly 90% vaccination rate amongst residents aged 12 and upwards.

You may have forgotten us, but we haven't forgotten all of you and cannot wait to see you all again soon!!

We would like to extend apologies for the lack of posts regarding the reopening of the Cayman borders, but it was simply because we had no news!

So just in case any of you have not forgotten us and are hoping to come and dive with us again someday, please see below.

We miss you all!!

Thank you to the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce for hosting the very important Legislative Luncheon today!

I spoke about several things including the PACT Government and what they have been working on for the past 2+ months, the financial and tourism industries, Caymanian employment, vaccinations and more.

However I know that many are very curious about our re-opening plans so I am posting the details about this plan that I spoke to in my speech.

To see my full speech and also see the subsequent discussions that took place you can visit here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1k7Zzpu4bg

PHASE 1 – June 2021 – REDUCED QUARANTINE PERIOD
We are now in Phase One.

This phase features continued local uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination and low COVID prevalence rates in key Cayman travel markets, which has allowed for the introduction of reduced quarantine periods and other travel restrictions. However, the borders remain closed and travel is supposed to be allowed for essential reasons only.
Specific aspects of this phase include:
● Entry PCR testing is required for all;
● A negative PCR test result is required to exit quarantine;
● Verifiably certified vaccinated travellers have a 5-day quarantine period;
● Unverifiable vaccinated travelers have a 10-day quarantine period;
● Unvaccinated travellers have a 14-day quarantine period; and that
● As of 1 July Government began paying for quarantine at a government-run facility only for essential travel.

PHASE 2 – August 9, 2021 – REDUCED REPATRIATION RESTRICTIONS

During this phase we will ease the monitoring of vaccinated travellers by removal of GPS monitoring. This will allow the Government to assess local impacts and build capacity to manage increased traveller volumes anticipated with the opening of the borders in Phase Three.

All businesses will be required to adhere to safety protocols issued by regulators and industry, which comply with the Caribbean Public Health Agency guidelines.

PHASE 3 – September 9, 2021 – LIMITED INTRODUCTION OF TOURISM

At that date we will be beyond the time frame of schools opening so we will not be reopening our borders at the same time as our children are preparing to go back to school.

Also, we are doing this during our traditional slow season with some restrictions, which include a flight slot management system to limit the number of people arriving.
This allows for the Government and the tourism industry to develop capacity for dealing with larger volumes of travellers in preparation for high season.

During Phase Three, our borders will open to securely verified vaccinated travelers, except for cruise travellers.

A Cayman Islands Airports Authority slot management system will manage flight volumes and schedules and medical insurance coverage will be required of inbound travellers.
Quarantine will be allowed at all hotels and other tourist accommodations, with periodic spot visits for vaccinated persons in quarantine.

PHASE 4 – October 14, 2021 – REDUCED QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS

We anticipate that the rate of local vaccination will be substantially adequate by this time to allow for the safe increase in tourism and relaxation of restrictions.

However, during Phase Four, unvaccinated travelers will continue to be required to apply for entry on the Travel Cayman Portal.

Vaccinated travellers will be required to make a declaration of travel and vaccination status on the Travel Cayman Portal, with a declaration certificate issued and vaccination checked on arrival.

Public gathering limits may be decreased dependent on whether the increasing public health risks.

Additionally, during Phase Four, there will be fines mandated for travellers failing to abide by this process, and school staff will be required to undergo surveillance PCR testing.

PHASE 5 – November 18, 2021 – TRAVEL FOR UNVACCINATED CHILDREN

Further loosening of travel restrictions will come during Phase Five when we will allow unvaccinated children younger than the eligible vaccination age to travel with vaccinated adult tourists.

During Phase Five, unvaccinated children younger than 12 will not be required to quarantine; PCR testing will be required for local unvaccinated children older than 5 who travel prior to being allowed to return to school; and there will be surveillance of unvaccinated persons by periodic PCR testing.

SAFE REOPENING/WELCOME BACK – to be reassessed 27 January, 2022

We will first assess the COVID-19 situation on 27 January next year in a local and international context to determine when and how to proceed with further relaxation of restrictions and travel.

If the assessment allows, we would begin to welcome all travelers and start the re-introduction of cruise tourism. It is anticipated that at this point there would no longer be any quarantine restrictions for any travelers; no restrictions on public gathering limits or public transport capacity; and no restrictions on certain business operations such as the rental of scuba and snorkeling equipment, use of hookahs, water pipes and so on.

THE REOPENING PLAN
As you have seen, our plan takes a phased approach, which allows assessment at each phase. Assessments will be based on medical science and data to indicate to us either to progress or change our plans to move to the next phase.

We must remember that even with this careful and phased reopening approach, there will be risks with reopening.

As we have done throughout this pandemic, we will manage these risks together in partnership as a community guided by Public Health.

Like the Marie Celeste....

It is very lonely, quiet dive boat without all of our friends from around the world diving here with us.

Luckily this photo was taken by Steve on the weekend whilst Mike was taking our resident guests on an underwater adventure!