Current Weather?

[wwguy]

Our Oceanic computers have been showing 77 degree water temp for the past week. Previous comparison to other diver's computers and/or other reported temps indicate our computers consistently read a couple of degrees below others, at least here on Bonaire anyway. (I've done some tests at home against some other measurement instruments and our computers seem to be accurate in this temperature range, so I remain puzzled.) We've been wearing 4/5 mm full suits with 2mm beanies, but we dive slow and target 70+ minute bottom times. I also brought a 2/3 mm full suit and so far have had no desire to use it on this trip. We must be getting old or something. When we first started diving here 17 years ago all I wore was a 3 mm shorty.

Viz is hard to estimate on this trip. There are still particulates in the water from last week's ripping winds, but I can see quite a ways under water compared to last week. I'm going to guess 70' or more. We've seen it clear up considerably in the past few days, so it may be even better by the time you arrive on Saturday.

All in all I'd say the water temps and visibility are pretty much just typical Bonaire conditions for this time of year.

Here's a 5 minute GoPro video I took a few days ago at Bari Reef that might give you some idea of visibility. (I've got a trip report going on over on BonaireTalk is anyone is interested.)

[video=youtube;fLHsM_KgpdA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLHsM_KgpdA[/video]

 

[T.C.]

We've seen it clear up considerably in the past few days, so it may be even better by the time you arrive on Saturday.

T.C., DiveDivaDM and jimw likes this.

---------- Post added June 8th, 2014 at 07:53 AM ----------

wwguy and/or jimbeeler

What is the water temperature and viz today? And yes, jimbeeler; what was that divesite in yesterdays pic? T.C., How SHORT are we?:cool2:

jimw, we're shorter than a midget in quicksand...shorter than a Tanker in room of grunts...(this is the only acceptable short-timer jokes I can post).

 

[Alvida]

Nice video. I'm looking for advice. We're going to Bonaire in September and I plan to borrow a GoPro Hero. I borrowed the same camera in April and shot some video in the Keys, but it's not nice and clear like yours. There is little color or contrast. Do I need to acquire some sort of filter? Thanks for any input. Apologies for the hijack of the weather thread.

---------- Post added June 8th, 2014 at 09:54 AM ----------

... and I should have read the credits before posting. Never mind. :blinking:

 

[jimbeeler]

Roatan Joe and I are in Bonaire right now. There is some wind 25-30, and a little surf entering and exiting, but not too bad. Here's Joe exiting from a dive this afternoon.

Jim

OK all... Sorry, Joe and I just had to poke a little fun at the weather thread... It was somewhere on the SE coast. We saw waves crashing and decided to pose a picture as though Joe had just come out of the water. Those that know him know he's a die hard diver and if he's been able to find someone to dive there, he would have.

Weather has been great. Winds are 25-30 out of the east but it hasn't affected the west side. Surf hasn't been too bad and water temperatures have been a consistent 81. I've been wearing a 3/2 full and have been comfortable. I'd be wearing my 3 mil shorty but I've taken one or two tumbles getting in and out of the water when I stepped on a rock wrong or in a hole. We've been diving from Buddy Reef south and entries/exits have been pretty good.

My favorite so far is probably Pink Beach with a toss-up going to the double reef sites.

All in all pretty good so far...

Jim

 

[T.C.]

Nice. Got a few of us wondering where you were.

You should go north; some outstanding diving up there.

 

[jimbeeler]

Nice. Got a few of us wondering where you were.

You should go north; some outstanding diving up there.

We took a ride up north and wanted to dive Karpata but for whatever reason when we got there, the entry looked a little dicey with the waves, so we decided to head back south where we knew it was a little milder.

Jim

 

[T.C.]

We took a ride up north and wanted to dive Karpata but for whatever reason when we got there, the entry looked a little dicey with the waves, so we decided to head back south where we knew it was a little milder.

Jim

Ah, ok.

For the record, the pier at Karpata makes it great for entries and exits. Walk onto the pier, gear up, sit on the dock and roll in when the crest of a wave passes. Give it a few swift kicks, and you'll be idling in about 5-8 feet of water. Exiting is just as easy as swimming up and climbing onto the dock.

But, there's no issue with being safe. Better that than a bad dive.

 

[jimbeeler]

Ah, ok.

For the record, the pier at Karpata makes it great for entries and exits. Walk onto the pier, gear up, sit on the dock and roll in when the crest of a wave passes. Give it a few swift kicks, and you'll be idling in about 5-8 feet of water. Exiting is just as easy as swimming up and climbing onto the dock.

But, there's no issue with being safe. Better that than a bad dive.

We may try it tomorrow or our last day, Tuesday. By the pier, you talking about that big slab of concrete?

Jim

 

[Reidkon]

We may try it tomorrow or our last day, Tuesday. By the pier, you talking about that big slab of concrete?

Jim

Yup, that's the way to get in and it's only about waist deep. When you exit walk up alongside the slab.


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[Roatan Joe]

Fun times! Thanks for posting the photo Jim... The photo doesn't really do the wave crashes justice.. I would estimate 20' crashes at times.