Roatan a good idea for October?

[trimmtrabb]

Hi,

I'm aware that October is maybe not the optimum time for Roatan, but is it still worth going? Still good for diving? (visibility? rough or calm water?). I guess there won't be any whale sharks?
Are there any better suggestions for the time in the Caribbean - which don't explode the budget ;-) ?

It looks like I will have three weeks to spend for diving in October. It's quite on a short notice and I'm living in New York at the moment and so I am looking for a destination that can be easily reached, without spending too much money and time on flights. Until now I have been diving and travelling mainly in Southeast Asia, so I am also really looking forward to see the Caribbean sea

 

[Mike]

Roatan isn't cheap and easy to get to compared to other places in the Caribbean, but maybe you have a deal that you found?

October can have good and bad weather, with 3 weeks on the island you won't have any problem find enough good days to make it worth while.

 

[RTBDiver]

I would say that if you get cheap fare and good rates where you choose to stay and this is not your only vacation time then go for it but if this three weeks will be a big trip for a year or so then I would not pick Roatan in the rainy season

 

[robint]

Hi,

I'm aware that October is maybe not the optimum time for Roatan, but is it still worth going? Still good for diving? (visibility? rough or calm water?). I guess there won't be any whale sharks?
Are there any better suggestions for the time in the Caribbean - which don't explode the budget ;-) ?

It looks like I will have three weeks to spend for diving in October. It's quite on a short notice and I'm living in New York at the moment and so I am looking for a destination that can be easily reached, without spending too much money and time on flights. Until now I have been diving and travelling mainly in Southeast Asia, so I am also really looking forward to see the Caribbean sea

You haven't said what your budget might be, how many dives per day you want to do, and whether you are traveling alone or with someone (diver or non-diver). For your first time going to the Caribbean, that timeframe is not the best for getting the best in diving.

IMHO - I would say to look into Bonaire or Cozumel for October.
check out a couple of my trip reports for info, photos and videos on both destinations.
http://www.rnrscuba.net/2012_Cozumel/2012_SCCTripReport.html
http://www.rnrscuba.net/2011_Bonaire/2011_Bonaire_TripReport.html
I am recommending both destinations because they are usually calmer water and better vis than anywhere else in the Caribbean, particularly in the hurricane/wet season of October.
I have been to Bonaire twice and Cozumel 8 times. I have not been during October, but would not hesitate to book either destination during that timeframe. Of course, both have been hit with hurricanes during fall, so keep that in mind.

robin

 

[jlevine]

I spent the pretty much the entire month of October and the first half of November on Roatan several years ago. Overall, the weather was fantastic. At the start of November, the north side got a little messy but the south side was fine. There's never a guarantee with regard to the weather but I wouldn't rule out Roatan in October. You'll probably have lots of good diving days.

 

[Sirto]

I found this in my 2004 trip report to Fantasy Island Resort in Roatan.

"We like to go to the Caribbean in the fall because the temperatures as well as the prices are lower and it is uncrowded. After we booked the trip for early October I read that this was the rainy season in Roatan. However, it rained hard on two days of our 14 trip and then only during the night. We also had a couple of sprinkles on two days. The temperatures were very pleasant in the low to mid 80s and the water temperature was 82 – 84 degrees."

Visibility was about 60 feet.

 

[RTBDiver]

I spent the pretty much the entire month of October and the first half of November on Roatan several years ago. Overall, the weather was fantastic. .

Like I posted previously, there will always be someone that had good weather in the rainy season, That person who posts here is often a frequent visitor. You can believe those here that have a vested interet in tourism or believe the facts that your likely to get a lot of rain. I cannot for the life of me understand why so many want to downplay the rainy season , Do they think if people pay once and visit they will not notice? I would prefer to be honest nd let folks visit gain and again rather than lie to get them here one time in rainy season . We already have runnoff today and currents heading west, Is this a peek into this years weather?? Who knows but please people, Stick to the facts as far as rain, Do not promote visiting unless you really know the people. Unke many here, this may be the trip of lifetime, ask yourselves, if this was the ONE trip yu could take in the net ten years, would you do it during rainy season?

 

[JohnN]

Hi,

I'm aware that October is maybe not the optimum time for Roatan, but is it still worth going? Still good for diving? (visibility? rough or calm water?). I guess there won't be any whale sharks?
Are there any better suggestions for the time in the Caribbean - which don't explode the budget ;-) ?

It looks like I will have three weeks to spend for diving in October. It's quite on a short notice and I'm living in New York at the moment and so I am looking for a destination that can be easily reached, without spending too much money and time on flights. Until now I have been diving and travelling mainly in Southeast Asia, so I am also really looking forward to see the Caribbean sea

Maybe I'll see you there. . . Staying at Cocolobo (my wive doesn't dive), diving w/ Coconut Tree. In Roatan Oct 7-20. The plan is 2-3 dives/day.

John N

 

[jlevine]

... You can believe those here that have a vested interet in tourism or believe the facts that your likely to get a lot of rain...

Wow! That's a broad paintbrush! Yes, there's certainly a greater chance of rain in October but it doesn't mean that October 1 is the beginning of absolute gloom and doom. Now, if the OP said November, I'd be more negative.

And, for the sake of the other part of your post, I have no business on Roatan (and that includes income property). I do own a piece of land though I see no need to mention that on every single post I write.

 

[trimmtrabb]

thanks for all your input!
@robint: thanks for the links. beautiful pictures! I've also read a lot about Bonaire. Looks amazing, but as far as I understood, it's mainly unguided shore diving? So far we've only dived with a guide and since we are relatively newbies to diving (AOWD, 50 dives), I'm not sure we are ready for this yet.

hmm, of course no one here is the "weather god/goddess" ;-) and I'm still a little undecided whether to save a visit to Roatan for a better season. But probably next spring we will aready be back to Japan and then probably chose another destination in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Sipadan or Philippines)..

btw, I will go with a diving friend. we usually do 2 dives a day, with some non-diving days in between.