5 Steps to Enjoying Recreational Sports During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected recreational sports immensely, especially scuba diving. But despite the restrictions and limitations on outdoor exposure, there are ways to actually still enjoy some leisure time outdoors while keeping yourself safe from the virus:

• Practice proper diving gear hygiene. A study conducted on divers doing recreational diving during the pandemic revealed the importance of regular cleaning of diving gear, especially those that come in contact with the eyes, nose and mouth that are entry points for COVID-19. Divers should spend time cleaning each equipment parts carefully using agents recommended by manufacturers.

• Bring your own gear. It’s not uncommon for recreational divers to rent out gear. But this pandemic means that you have to invest in your own gear for your own safety. This is especially true for snorkels, mouthpieces and oral inflators.

• Limit the number of divers in your group. Although it’s more fun to dive with a big group, you need to be extra careful when organizing diving expeditions, limiting your divers to make sure that proper social distancing is practiced during your trip. You should also ensure that no one is feeling sick or there were no prior exposures to COVID-19 positive patients before your dive.

• Disinfect your gear properly. The Divers Alert Network has released new guidelines that recommend the proper sanitation of diving gear and equipment. Ensure that disinfectant solutions listed on the “EPA’s N list” is available on your dives and that protocols are followed by everyone on your diving expedition.

• Practice social distancing. Divers should be at least two meters apart when on the surface or on the boat. It’s also very important to avoid buddy checks or air-sharing techniques where two divers could share the same regulator. This practice should only be followed in a real emergency situation underwater.

As we continue to come to grips with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s very important to follow proper procedures that will allow us to still have fun and enjoy the activities that we love like scuba diving without the fear of contracting the virus.