While Singapore has announced plans to ease up border restrictions to neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has sparked fear in many travelers hoping to hop on a flight to visit these destinations.
At the moment, the local government is still investigating the severity of the strain and this may impact the opening up of travel lanes with these countries. With the fear of borders locking down again, many Singaporean scuba divers are therefore seizing the moment to flock over to these countries – after the long hiatus of scuba diving in waters around Southeast Asia – as soon as possible before plans get soiled again.
While this may be the case, it is important to first consider the safety of visiting these countries. Factors such as vaccination rates and a daily number of covid cases can impose different kinds of implications when visiting. In addition, the prevalence of the new variant should be taken into heavy consideration when traveling as it may result in disrupted plans. Hence such factors should be considered heavily before planning a trip there.
List of countries in Southeast Asia opened to Singapore
As of 6 Dec 2021, Singapore has currently opened VTLs (Vaccinated Travel Lanes) to several Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, and India. Additionally, VTL flights to Thailand will commence on 14 Dec 2021 as well as to Cambodia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka from 16 Dec 2021 onwards.
With these countries opening their borders, an influx of scuba diving tourists will be expected from both sides. Pertaining more to local travelers, many Singaporean scuba divers have already made plans to travel abroad to these destinations in hopes of bringing out their new or old diving gear and diving again at popular diving spots all over these countries. Some of these spots include:
Similan Islands in Thailand
An archipelago in the Andaman Sea off the coast of hang Nga province in southern Thailand. The island is considered one of the best diving spots in Southeast Asia as the protected islands have allowed for much unique marine life such as manta rays and whale sharks to settle down and call it home.
Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
An island located southeast of Bali, Indonesia, Nusa Lembongan is part of three other islands that make up the Nusa Penida district and is home to some of the best dive sites in the world. In these waters, one might even be able to catch a glimpse of the otherworldly Mola Mola or Oceanic Sunfish from August to October.
Sipadan, Malaysia
Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia and it is located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. The waters surrounding the island are home to several schools of fish, spiraling barracudas, and schooling reef sharks.
Vaccination and Infection Rates
While these spots are extremely attractive and with VTLs slowly opening up, it is of good practice to evaluate the situation in these separate countries before you pack your diving gear and hop on board a flight the following day.
In evaluating the spread of Covid-19 in these countries, factors such as the vaccination and infection rate can be useful in judging how safe a country is before visiting.
As of 3 Dec 2021:
Malaysia – 78.5% fully vaccinated with 5000 reported infected cases on a 7-day average
Indonesia – 36.2% fully vaccinated with 250 reported infected cases on a 7-day average
Thailand – 59.8% fully vaccinated with 5490 reported infected cases on a 7-day average
India – 34.6% fully vaccinated with 8675 reported infected cases on a 7-day average
South Korea – 79.8% fully vaccinated with 4737 reported infected cases on a 7-day average
Cambodia – 80.2% fully vaccinated with 24 reported infected cases on a 7-day average
Prevalence of Omicron variant in these states
In addition to the above, tracking the spread of the still underdeveloped Omicron variant would be an important consideration when booking overseas travel as various states are responding heavily to curb the spread of the variant.
As of 6 Dec 2021:
Malaysia – First case of Omicron Variant reported as of 3 December 21, no news on additional cases
Indonesia – No Omicron cases, however, the country aims to tighten travel curbs to brace for the spread of the new variant
Thailand – First case of Omicron Variant reported as of 6 December 21, no news on additional cases
India – 21 cases of Omicron with nine in the western state of Rajasthan followed by eight in Maharashtra, two in Karnataka, and one each in Gujarat and the capital New Delhi.
South Korea – 12 cases of Omicron.
Cambodia – No Omicron cases. The country aims to continue opening up to travelers, removing its ban on travelers from 10 African countries.
Covid Safety Measures Imposed by Different Countries
With the prevalence of the new Omicron variant, many of these Southeast Asian countries are taking further measures to tighten the curb. For instance, South Korea has already announced a mandatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival regardless of vaccination status. Hence it is important to fully evaluate how things are going to play out before booking your next flights. In the event of a mandatory quarantine or lockdown, tourists will definitely face immense pressure from the clamping down of tourist activities and the sudden abolishment of individual travel plans.
Additional Costs (such as quarantine, tests)
On top of the changing of plans, additional costs may arise should a country go into a lockdown or impose additional quarantine measures on travelers. These costs can include additional covid test costs and residential costs arising from prolonged stays due to quarantine.
Conclusion
While the news is still unraveling around the new Omicron variant, it is important to exercise correct judgment should you wish to travel abroad now. While VTLs are currently opening up to various countries, circumstances may change and regardless of whether you are traveling abroad for scuba diving or for other leisure plans, a dramatic change in plan will still result in an unfavorable getaway.