The scuba boar was new, back in the water for the first time in over 2 years. The entire boat crew was new. Some were fired the prior week, so a few were working the boat for the first time.
Typically, we meeting tour groups everyone has just arrived, therefore everybody has negative COVID tests. This time about half the group was in the country already for at least 1 or 2 weeks. In retrospect, they should be retest prior to boarding.
When first person tested positive, they should have tested everybody.
- Due to the ineptness of the scuba boat crew 14 of the 24 passages tested positive for COVID. They failed to test everybody once the first person tested positive. COVID continued to spread throughout the boat during the week! If they tested everyone they could have identified other that were positive and spreading COVID.
- My underwater camera housing leaked on the last day. My camera died. I lost all my underwater pictures taken during the week.
- After testing positive for COVID, 14 of us were quarantined in a very basic hotel for 7 days without leaving our rooms. Although we did have our own rooms and we could order outside food from the “Food Panda” app. I ordered Lumpiang Shanghai, Sizzling Sisig, Papaitan, Sinigang Na Hipon.
- I’ve been on a number of these liveaboard scuba trips with the same group, and I always kinda knew that I didn’t fit in. This trip cemented that inkling. They are friends but not good friends like I'm used to hanging out with.
- And I had my worst dive experience. On one of the dives I had diarrhea and shart in my wetsuit!
- Oh. And the stock market has been heading south all week! FML
- Philippines Presidential election was the day of my departure! There was a liquor band! NO BEER AT THE AIRPORT!
- On Thursday, I made plans with my friend to explore Manila on Saturday. On Saturday night, my friend’s mom died.
- Never got to try balut again.
