TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands 4 day restrictions on the boat

Planning an April trip and trying to get a feel for the first 4 days we are restricted on the boat. I do understand the different places that are allowed. Those of you who have done this please help me with the "30 foot bubble". I also read in the rules that you might be allowed ashore in the restricted areas as long as the day 0 test was negative. Any feed back on how the first 4 days went will be appreciated. Any chance of getting take out delivered from restaurants during those days?

Thanks

Hey Knotthead - There is a lot of info in the many threads on TTOL about all this. In short: The 30 foot bubble is pretty loose. We swam and snorkeled much further from our boat as long as no other boats were nearby (which was not an issue as the BVI is pretty empty.....which is awesome!). We didn't try to go ashore during that Q period, but we could have. We also did not get any takeout, but I understand this is possible. Although, I don't recall any of the Q anchorages having restaurants nearby (which is the point, I suspect).
Cheers,

Husker.

But, wouldn't that be in violation of the quarantine, if you went ashore??

No, charter guests are allowed to use certain beaches and snorkeling spots. Similarly, some resort guests are allowed to use designated beaches and public dining areas.

Jason--OK, thanks. I misunderstood.

Here is a page with links to the official government information. Under Vessel Restrictions it calls out the restriction of waiting until Day 0 negative results are received before making landfall.

Specifically, here is the current map that calls out which Peter Island anchorages are prohibited from landfall.

Sleepychef will probably chime in, but I think he has setup a system to order, pay, and arrange for pickup from Wonky Dog on Anegada.

I have asked several times without luck but does anyone having anything definitive about diving during the 4 day period?
George

The landfall rules are not entirely clear. The concept is that those who have not cleared the Covid protocols should not be mixing with inhabitants. Yet if someone goes ashore on an inhabited island, that would be a problem. Likewise, if we, or our neighbors who have not cleared protocol, are on our private beaches or docks, which is permitted, then someone coming ashore could be exposed.

I have not seen any versions of the tracking devices that are suitable for diving depths. That alone seems to indicate that diving is not allowed.

Even the waterproof watches have been damaged by simple showers.

For the most part, the designated anchorages are uninhabited. Obviously, there could still be people not in quarantine that have ventured to those places, but the risk of that happening is reduced and hopefully people use some common sense, wear masks, and keep their distance from each other. Pomato Point on Anegada is a good example. It is essentially uninhabited but there is a restaurant and a couple of rental cottages near where the anchorage is marked on the map. Charter guests just need to consider it a privilege that they are allowed to use the beach and stay away from others. it's not an excuse to go to Sid's and have dinner even though the restaurant is near the designated anchorage.

The concept is a complete violation of the 30 foot rule so I don't know what the government is really thinking but I do think some common sense and courtesy could be applied here.

No diving is a deal killer for two groups looking to go down. Hard to understand how diving presents any risk.

I'm not sure anyone thinks it does but the tracking devices are a requirement so I don't understand how that would work. Devices capable of diving depths would be quite a bit more expensive if they even could be made to work.

Diving is a risk when dive boat operators need to come out to boats that are stillunder quarantine , this is why no diving is allowed.

Now if you have all your own equipment....

They have there own equipment and were not planning rendezvous dives.

IF it was a possibility they would have to have the tanks and weights delivered before they arrived and most likely no new tanks or refills until after released from Q. I assume they know the reefs/sites where they would be diving? We're divers but I would not assume diving would be an approved activity until cleared from Q. And I certainly would not want to risk Q violation.

Still the issue of the tracking device you need to keep with you. None of them are build for diving. That makes it pretty simple. To me, it doesn't make much sense to come for less than 10 days so couldn't diving just wait until after quarantine.

I wouldn't think the approve anchorages are any good for diving anyway. Is there any diving at George Dog? That's the only one I could imagine being decent but even there you are limited to the 90 minute NPT Mooring time.

George dog has good diving. The back side of Peter is good. The wreck of the fearless is off Great Harbor and a good dive. There is a nice drop off at Benures.
G

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Charter Dates available: from December 1st, 2020 onwards, while Quarantine applies in the BVI.

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