Coronavirus COVID-19 Restrictions

The Scuba Doctor Responds To The COVID-19 Pandemic

Rye VIC 3941 is in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula which is included in Metropolitan Melbourne.

The Coronavirus COVID-19 situation is having an impact on all of us. It's a constantly changing situation. We've been trying to keep our customers, suppliers and the general diving community up-to-date with what we're doing via regular posts on our Facebook page, plus email newsletters. However, we felt it best to bring it all together here in one easily accessible location.

The health, welfare and safety of all divers is an overriding concern for The Scuba Doctor and it is recognised that the coronavirus outbreak, subsequent spread and associated media publicity can heighten awareness and concern.

The Scuba Doctor continues to monitor current government advice to assess the risk as appropriate. We also work closely with industry sources in order to assure a considered and appropriate response.

Last Updated: Saturday, 06 August 2022, 2:48 p.m.

Dive Shop Coronavirus COVID-19 Restrictions

Dive Shop Opening Hours

Please see Opening Hours for details.

Shopping Online

Our online dive shop is open 24x7. We are in-store processing online orders,

answering emails and phone calls from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. every day except Tuesday.

Shopping In-Store

Due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic current situation, we havethe following guidelines in place to our In-Store shopping policies as follows:

• ONLY REMAIN IN STORE IF SHOPPING OR BEING SERVED.
• FACE MASKS. Wearing a face mask is "advised" but not mandatory in the dive shop as per current victorian guidelines.
• DON'T touch items on display unless you must do so. If you must touch or try on something, please ask first then use the hand sanitiser provided BEFORE and AFTER touching anything.
• NO use of the diver's kitchen by customers. (Now a staff only area.)
• NO leaving the main dive shop area, unless accompanied by a Staff Member. This includes going to the Diver's Kitchen, the back Wash Area, the Miflex Hose display area, Kids Corner, the Front Office and the Back Office, Roys Shed or Containers.
• Cash payments are still OK. Credit Card preferred.
• Click and Collect online purchasing preferred. We strongly recommend that customers who can do so, please use our Click and Collect service. This makes it easier for everyone to maintain the social distancing standards, plus reduce your in-store time.

Given the current rapidly changing situation and unknowns, we've decided that it's prudent to put in place these in-store restrictions. They could change at any time.

Social Distancing: The floor space of our dive shop lets us have 9 people inside and still comply with the four square metres per person restriction.

We ask that if you're waiting for Air and/or Nitrox fills, that you please do so outside of the dive shop while maintaining proper self-distancing measures.

Guided Dives and Dive Courses

We have decided to make changes to our Guided Dives and Dive Courses policies as follows:

• We will only allow a maximum of FOUR divers with a Dive Master or Instructor on a Guided Dive.

Given the current rapidly changing situation and unknowns, we've decided that it's prudent to put in place these restrictions. They could change at any time.

Please see Guided Dives.

Click and Collect

Whilst Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic public health measures are in place, we strongly recommend that customers who can do so, please use our Click and Collect service. This makes it easier for everyone to maintain the social distancing standards, plus reduces your in-store time.

Shop online. During checkout select "Store Pickup" as the shipping method. We'll let you know by email when your order is ready to be collected. Then you can call or email us to make an appointment to collect your order. You save on shipping as this service is free!

If you are picking up an online order, please call ahead if possible. We'll then make sure it's to hand when you arrive. When you get here, please wait outside and we'll bring it out to you.

Click and Collect now!

Air and Nitrox Fills

Given the current rapidly changing situation and unknowns, we've decided that it's prudent to put in place these restrictions. However, they could change at any time.

The process of compressing gases generates heat during the compression process that should kill any virus inadvertently to enter the air intakes. Helium and oxygen supplies for producing gas mixes are always be from a reputable source for breathing gases. Consequently, the gas in your diving cylinder should remain safe to breathe.

The greatest potential for transmission of the COVID-19 virus is through surface contact around the top of the cylinder and pillar valve. Compressor operators, people transporting cylinders and those assembling scuba sets should avoid touching or otherwise contaminating the outlet of the cylinder or the first stage of the regulator that connects to it.

Social Distancing: The floor space of our dive shop lets us have 9 people inside and still comply with the four square metres per person restriction.

We ask that if you're waiting for Air and/or Nitrox fills, that you please do so outside of the dive shop while maintaining proper self-distancing measures if possible. Doing so also helps us to handle more customers in a timely way.

See also, Air and Nitrox Fills.

Scuba Gear Rental

As always, we use recommended cleaning and sanitisation procedures to ensure as best we can that all rental equipment is safe.

Please Note: We use one product we trust to properly clean and disinfect scuba gear against COVID-19, while at the same time not damaging the scuba gear, this is SteriGENE®, We have adpoted a cleaning regeme with our hire gear using this product.

See also, Scuba Equipment Rental.

Eight Simple COVID-19 Risk Reduction Steps For Divers

Here are eight simple COVID-19 risk reduction steps for divers to be taken into account while doing any diving related activities.

COVID-19 primarily spreads by by inhaling small droplets exhaled by an infected person (respiratory transmission), and by touching the eyes, nose and/or mouth after touching something an infected person touched or sneezed/coughed on (contact transmission). By staying aware of both, risk reduction is usually straightforward. Keeping things simple usually works well.

1. Don't go diving if you have or may have (symptoms), or have been exposed to any infectious disease. Isolate until healthy and clear according to medical advice.
2. Support the space program. On the surface and out of the water, apply social distancing and give each other the local minimum required separation.
3. Keep your mitts off! Sanitise/wash your hands before and after touching any dive gear (including your own), even if touching was in underwater. Don't touch someone else's gear unless absolutely necessary. It's not clear that immersion reduces COVID-19 contact risk, so assume that it doesn't. Note: Recommended hand sanitisers are 70%+ alcohol and highly flammable. Do not use hand sanitiser near oxygen or a fire source. Be sure hands are fully dried before using either.
4. Don't clam up: Medical mask etiquette. My mask helps protect you. Your mask helps protect me. Let's follow local protocols and not be shellfish.
5. COVID-19 hates scuba. Your mask reduces eyes and nose contact-risk, and keeping it on is the best habit whenever you're in the water anyway. Breathing from a regulator reduces your respiration transmission risk.
6. Be a lean, clean, sanitary machine. Use defog. Disinfect masks, snorkels, regulators and BCDs before another person uses them, and before storing them. Don't sling the ... stuff ... out of your mask after a dive. Rinse it somewhere appropriately. Avoid spitting/blowing nose etc. into the water where others will be/are. Use tissues and discard them appropriately. Wash/sanitise your hands after touching high contact surfaces like railings, door pulls, safety handles, etc.
7. Sharing air is bad. At the surface. Diving, dive gear and wind affect the direction and distance our exhalations travel. Stay aware and avoid being on , and having someone on the "receiving end" when clearing snorkels, breathing hard after freediving, etc. Regulator-breathing helps protect you, but your exhalations might affect someone who's too close and not using a regulator.
8. But sharing air might be really important underwater. So, don't test breathe your alternate second stage. Test purge it during checks, but leave it disinfected in case someone needs it. Or, test breathe it, then re-disinfect it.

Disinfecting Scuba Equipment

We use and trust one product to safely disinfect our and others scuba gear from COVID-19, without damaging the life support equipment, when used properly. This is SteriGENE®.

SteriGENE Clear Hospital Grade Surface Disinfectant 250ml
RRP: $50, Our Price: $25, You Save $25 (50%).
Concentrate makes 25 litres of SteriGENE® 1:100 solution. Soak your scuba, freediving, spearfishing or snorkelling gear in a 1:100 solution for 30 minutes to protect from COVID-19. Then rinse off. Once mixed it will keep for up to 12 months.

SteriGENE Clear Hospital Grade Surface Disinfectant 1 Litre
RRP: $140, Our Price: $70, You Save $70 (50%).
Concentrate makes 100 litres of SteriGENE® 1:100 solution. Soak your scuba, freediving, spearfishing or snorkelling gear in a 1:100 solution for 30 minutes to protect from COVID-19. Then rinse off. Once mixed it will keep for up to 12 months.

SteriGENE Clear Hospital Grade Surface Disinfectant 5 Litre
RRP: $480, Our Price: $240, You Save $240 (50%).
Concentrate makes 500 litres of SteriGENE® 1:100 solution. Soak your scuba, freediving, spearfishing or snorkelling gear in a 1:100 solution for 30 minutes to protect from COVID-19. Then rinse off. Once mixed it will keep for up to 12 months. Great option for dive centres.

SteriGENE Clear Surface Spray Disinfectant - 500ml
RRP: $30, Our Price: $15, You Save $15 (50%).
Ready to use SteriGENE® 1:100 solution in a spray bottle. Apply to your your scuba, freediving, spearfishing or snorkelling gear and wait 30 minutes to protect from COVID-19. Then rinse off.

SteriGENE Clear High Level Disinfectant and Cleaner - 180 Wipes
RRP: $90, Our Price: $45, You Save $45 (50%).
Contains 180 SteriGENE® unscented ready to use wipes. Apply to your your scuba, freediving, spearfishing or snorkelling gear and wait 30 minutes to protect from COVID-19. Then rinse off.

During this period of risks from COVID-19, additional precautions may be considered to include any personal equipment that is intended for use by another diver in an emergency (AS and BC mouthpieces) can additionally be soaked in a suitable disinfectant solution for 10 minutes. Any equipment soaked in disinfectant solution should be thoroughly rinsed in fresh water before further use and allowed to air dry thoroughly before storage. If owners are concerned this might impact on the equipment they should contact the manufacturer for advice.

It is essential that manufacturers guidelines are followed when considering any means of disinfecting regulators and BCDs. Any chemical that could interact with the moving parts, valves and perishable components within the regulator could interfere with the working and/or performance. If owners are concerned this might impact on the equipment they should contact the manufacturer for advice.

See also, Disinfecting Your Diving Equipment.

Hand Sanitiser

We've finally come up with a great solution to our problem sourcing hand sanitiser for the dive shop. Somerville, Mornington Peninsula based Chief's Son Distillery is now making hand sanitiser.

It's a quality medical grade product which is ethanol 80% v/v, water, glycerol and hydrogen peroxide based in accordance with WHO standards, FDA and TGA approved. There are options they can deliver and options that are pick up only at the distillery door. The quality you can order online is limited, but you can call them on 03 9013 0859 for bulk orders.

We purchased five of the 250ml glass spray top bottles, five of the 500ml refill glass bottles, plus a bulk 10 litre pack. When we've used up the contents of the 250ml bottles we'll switch the spray tops over to the larger 500ml bottles, which are a better size for use in the dive shop. Then we've got the bulk supply of 10 litres to refill the 500ml bottles from. We can just go back for more bulk hand sanitiser as required. A great, environmentally friendly, ongoing solution.

If you need hand sanitiser for your home, business, school or medical facility, we strongly recommend you contact Chief's Son Distillery.

Face Masks

We have for sale the Australian Made range of Sharkskin Envirus fabric/cloth face masks.

This is a multi-layer design based on the best scientific data available. Sharkskin have worked with scientists, fabric experts, industrial and technical wear manufacturers to ensure to offer the best protection they can.

We've also been using the surgical face masks, made in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia, by Med-Con Pty Ltd.

Model 170506, High Filtration Surgical Face Masks with Earloops, Level 2, Green colour are available in boxes of 50 masks.

They are way more comfortable than the P2/N95 respirator face masks we see being used by some people. However, these surgical face masks are needed for use by medical professionals and others at risk of exposure to COVID-19. Med-Con's full production output is now being diverted for this purpose.

Other Resources

• Diving and Coronavirus
  — Advice on COVID-19 from The Scuba Doctor
• Guidance On Coronavirus
  — Wellness and Wellbeing Advice for Divers and Snorkellers
• Keep Calm We're Still Open For Now
  — The Scuba Doctor is still open, but we've put in place a number of COVID-19 related restrictions. (26 March 2020)
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Update
  — An update from The Scuba Doctor on the Coronavirus COVID-19 situation. (16 March 2020)
• Safe Return to Diving guidance
  — BSAC UK has released comprehensive guidance to help the diving community prepare for a safe return to the water.