Travel

WASHINGTON — The State Department reissued its mainland China travel advisory on Oct. 19. The overall rating stays at Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution." The update adds a "D" risk indicator for wrongful detention, according to the department's advisory page. The text says China enforces its laws arbitrarily and imposes exit bans without a fair process. It adds that Americans accused of national security offenses are often denied a lawyer. Travelers may learn of a ban only when they try to leave. The Washington Times reports that the advisory names several groups as likelier targets. They include Americans of Chinese heritage, people in business disputes, and anyone with past or present ties to U.S. law enforcement, the military or intelligence agencies. The newspaper says Beijing denies wrongfully detaining Americans. It also reports that the administration is pressing for detainees' release before President Trump travels to the APEC summit in Shenzhen.

CHICAGO — Chicago's Department of Aviation closed Runway 22L at Midway International Airport on Oct. 19, effective immediately. The department says the Engineered Materials Arresting System at the departure end was damaged by recent aircraft activity, including jet blast. The department is targeting mid-November for completion. The airport normally handles about 500 flights a day, and Southwest Airlines operates the most flights there. Officials warn of delays and cancellations that will depend on schedules and wind direction. On Tuesday the department counted 55 delays in 24 hours, according to the Daily Herald. Aviation analyst Joseph Schwieterman of DePaul University said he expects mostly delays rather than cancellations, and he warned that bad weather would be the real test. Southwest serves Chicago from Memphis, according to the airport's own announcement of its Austin route. Memphis travelers connecting through Chicago should check flight status before leaving for the airport.

GALÁPAGOS, Ecuador — Whale sharks usually visit Darwin and Wolf from June to November, peaking in August and September. This year's El Niño has made sightings less certain. The Scuba News, citing NOAA's September 10 update, reports a better-than-90% chance of a very strong event this winter. A Galápagos Aggressor III crew reported northern-island water of about 80 to 83°F. In some recent weeks the crew logged no hammerhead or Galápagos sharks at Darwin, while Wolf did better. Operator Explorer Ventures says hammerheads are present but deeper, with calm seas and excellent visibility. One of its guest groups saw no whale sharks. A diver's Substack review described a single whale shark staying with the boat for a day. Both islands are liveaboard-only, 14 to 18 hours from the central islands. Operators typically want advanced certification and about 50 logged dives. From Memphis there is no nonstop to Ecuador, so divers connect through a U.S. hub to Baltra.

BIMINI, Bahamas — Great hammerheads gather off Bimini each winter. Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Center runs its hammerhead safaris from the Big Game Club from November through April. Trips take a maximum of 14 guests, last roughly 11am to 5pm, and are cage-free. The dive site is about 20 feet deep. Operators advise a full 5mm suit, hood and gloves. The safari costs $349 plus 10 percent VAT, with tanks and weights included. Dive-travel guides place the densest aggregation between December or January and March. Sharks are lured with bait, and sightings depend on weather, tides and shark activity. The site is shallow enough for open-water divers. Bimini is about 53 miles from Miami. From Memphis, American Airlines flies nonstop to Miami, and Allegiant serves Fort Lauderdale. Divers then reach Bimini by commercial flight, seaplane or boat.

ADELAIDE — SeaLink restarted sailings across Backstairs Passage today after a three-day shutdown to install new vehicle ramps at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw. For the next four days, through Oct. 26, the older SeaLion 2000 runs alone. It makes five departures from the mainland, the first at 6 a.m. Meanwhile the new ferry Wanggami completes crew training and testing. The second new ship, Ruwi, is still to be phased in. ABC News reports the operator has gone to court to force the shipyard to deliver it. SeaLink expects both vessels on a new timetable in November. Once that starts, peak season, September to April, is planned at up to 22 daily departures on weekdays. The crossing takes about 45 minutes. Cape Jervis is roughly two hours' drive from Adelaide. From Memphis there is no direct service, so travelers connect through a U.S. gateway and a major Australian airport. The State Department rates Australia Level 1, normal precautions, and U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authority.

LAZI, Philippines — OceanJet began a daily Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Lazi (Siquijor) to Plaridel (Misamis Occidental) fast-ferry service on Oct. 23, according to regional Philippine outlets. One Siquijor outlet's earlier item gave Oct. 28 as the start date. The Oct. 23 date is confirmed by the operator's published schedule and the governor's announcement. Tagbilaran-Lazi departs at 7:20 a.m. and arrives at 9:20 a.m. Lazi-Plaridel leaves at 9:40 a.m. and arrives at 11:10 a.m. Reported tourist-class fares are 1,100 pesos for Tagbilaran-Lazi and 900 pesos for Lazi-Plaridel. Siquijor is Philippine-famed for its beaches and waterfalls. The drier months from about December are generally the better time to go. The State Department rates the Philippines Level 2. Its Sept. 1 update raised caution for rural parts of Leyte, Mindoro, Negros and Samar. Mindanao, including the Plaridel end of this route, is Level 3, reconsider travel. From Memphis, travelers connect through a U.S. hub to Manila or Cebu, then take a domestic flight or ferry.