Bad Weather in Jan???

[citydiver]

Oh no..just read a post below my own and saw that some posters were talking about January being the rainy season in Roatan. We are going the 13 thru the 27th....What exactly is the "rainy season" are we talking down pours or 15 mins of showers here and there....How I did not realise this before is a mystery.......

Thanks....

 

[Utila Simon]

Hi Citydiver,

It certainly is rainy season here then. As with any season it can be good or bad. Good is as you envisage, downpours of between 15mins and 30 mins through to heavy overnight rain and overcast days. Generally you get about 3 wet days to 4 sunny ones.

This does screw up the vis somewhat, mainly due to the surface run off from the island. It can also be pretty chilly between dives but just come prepared with a waterproof for the boat to keep out the wind.

I am talking Utila here, but at 18 miles distant it is reasonable to assume that Roatan is similar. Maybe ask Roatan Man.

Water temp generally gets no lower than 26 centigrade though, about 80F.

Hope this helps

Simon

 

[nanfla]

Citydiver,

We will be on Roatan and then Utila from January 13 to 27 also. We have been on Roatan about ten times and this will be our third trip to Utila. Where will you be staying?

Nancy

 

[citydiver]

We are staying at Cocoview the first week from 13th through the 20th, this will be our second trip to Cocoview, we loved it the first time but were there in September. And we are thinking of extending our trip to Utila from the 20th throgh the 27th, but not sure because of the weather. I can't believe I didn't realise it was the rainy season..Duhhh! Hopefully we will get lucky with the Vis...
If we go to Utila I think we will stay at Deep Blue..but not sure..
Where are you staying?

 

[nanfla]

We will be staying at the Utila Lodge. We have been there twice before and always enjoyed it. We will be at one of the beach houses at CoCo View the first week. I guess January is the rainy season, however these days weather is so crazy and unpredictable. Rain is always a possibility. Lets hope for not too much, though.

Nancy

 

[NorthernMelody]

I was in Roatan this past Feb 4-11, and it was rainy almost everyday...off and on. If it wasn't raining it was overcast, but the 8 other divers I was with including myself all still enjoyed our diving. Needless to say though, we didn't catch a tan The visiblity wasn't always great...but compaired to Canadian diving anything over 10 ft isn't too bad lol You'll want a sweatshirt and long pants (comfy clothes) for the evening. I never got truely cold. I'll also be in Utila (I'm taking my Instructor Exams at the Utila Dive Center durning that month) Pop msgs out if you can while down there and perhaps a bunch of us SBers can have a pint together

Hope you have a great time!

 

[Aeolus]

You probably do not want to hear this, but here goes anyway. Three years ago, I was booked to stay at Fantasy Island for two weeks in Jan. As I was trying to leave Houston, we were delayed for two days waiting for the weather to clear. As we were approaching Roatan, we were diverted to San Salvador due to rain at the airport. We had to stay overnight there as well. When we did arrive at Roatan the next day, it rained every day, all day, for the whole two weeks. It did not interfere with the diving, but we were never quite dry either. When it came time to leave, we were delayed for two more days because of the rain. I was very thankful that I had booked for two weeks, as otherwise I would have missed a lot. During the wait for weather on the exit, we were not able to dive, since we did not know when we might be leaving.

Would I do it again - Hell yes. I hope you enjoy your trip. From what I have heard it is not usually that bad. Good luck.

ps - You will love Cocoview and I would strongly suggest Deep Blue for Utila. I have stayed there twice recently and they are great. Steve, Jasmine and Shirley, along with the rest of the staff will do everything possible to make sure you have a good time.

 

[citydiver]

Aeolus...you are right, I did not want to hear that...Ugh! I don't know why I managed to not realise that, but oh well...We have been to cocoview before and loved it...Besides it won't be raining under water...hehe..hope the vis is ok..Everyday in paradise wether rain or shine is still a day in paradise and not at WORK!!!!

 

[pword]

I'm sure you really don't want to see this but I found it during research for Roatan and it looks like January is the worst month to go there, http://www.lagovistascuba.com/archive.htm

Anway if you're diving it shouldn't matter since you'll be wet and under the water anyway right? Just make the best of it and maybe it won't be that bad.

 

[Doc]

Aeolus...you are right, I did not want to hear that...Ugh! I don't know why I managed to not realise that, but oh well...

Something else no one wants to hear, but a quick search of SCUBABoard would bring up many posts that relate to this.

Utila is different than Roatan. Roatan is 17 miles long x 3 miles wide and lies along a WSW to ENE line. This huge barrier defends the South side (CoCoView, where you are staying in on the S side) from "Northers" that are frequent in January.

How to know when the Bay Islands are getting bashed?

Look at any US weather map. When arctic cold masses envelop the upper midwest (ND, MN, IL, WI) the weather downturns a few days later in the Bay Islands. Rain, overcast, etc.

If the cold mass pushes farther down (KS, IA, IL) it takes another step downwards for the weather in the Bay Islands a few days later

When the cold hits Texas, a day later the diving on the North side of Roatan is over.

Utila is a very small island. It is hard to "hide behind" it's lee side (away from the wind).

Go, have fun. Remember that each incremental change in the ocean environment changes the niche and behaviors of the miriad creatures that are your for observation. Go and enjoy the differences.