Hurricanes and Curacao?

[scubawife]

We started going to Curacao for coral spawning because it's supposed to be out of the hurricane belt. (A couple other Caribbean trips with tropical storms and lost dive days got us looking at the ABC's)

2007 the day we arrived on the island so did the most outer bands of Felix. The next morning and most of the day it was wet and windy, diving was a no-go. The rest of the week was fantastic.

2008 we canceled our trip when CO canceled their EWR-CUR service. The week we would have been there is when Omar effected the area.

I'm not completely buying the, "we don't get hurricanes," line anymore, but the chances are much, much less then in the rest of the Caribbean. At most it seems they may get grazed by the very outer bands. What we experienced with Felix was less then the Tropical Storms we've had when in the Caymans and Puerto Rico.

 

[Just another Cinderella]

Well we are supposed to be "below the hurricane belt". Most storms that come from the Azores seem to deflect away from the ABCs.
Omar started here last Oct. and stayed three days. While "just" a TS it took out most of the dive shop docks and did a fair amount of reef damage. Took over a week for the vis to clear.
Generally summer is a good time to dive though. On the bright side you might have to delay going home if Miami is getting hit during your stay on Curacao.

 

[scubawife]

Well we are supposed to be "below the hurricane belt". Most storms that come from the Azores seem to deflect away from the ABCs.
Omar started here last Oct. and stayed three days. While "just" a TS it took out most of the dive shop docks and did a fair amount of reef damage. Took over a week for the vis to clear.
Generally summer is a good time to dive though. On the bright side you might have to delay going home if Miami is getting hit during your stay on Curacao.

"...a fair amount of reef damage." We're planning on being back in Curacao for the October spawning week this year. A lot of damage everywhere or some damage on some sites?

Wilma damage never deterred us from making our Cozumel trips. Any Omar damage would not stop us from coming back to Curacao, but I'd like to have an idea of exactly what to expect. (Continental currently has their non-stop from Newark back on the schedule for the fall and a just under 5hr non-stop is a BIG plus for us.)

 

[Just another Cinderella]

What sites do you plan on diving?
In general I would say that the dive sites fronted by beaches took the worst hit.
The first reef [of the double reef] at Porto Marie is all but gone but now people who are diving it for the first time still love the site.
If you are very familiar with Curacao you will notice the change in UW topography at 30 ft. and up [at some sites] but you won't be disappointed.
Besides the new rubble is providing different habitat.
If the attached works this was two days after Omar and formerly was a continuous line of fringe reef.

 

[BonaireDan]

The ABC's are not usually hurricane worry spots. Being below the usual tracks they will get tropical storm weather as a hurricane passes by to the north or they will get the TS weather as a hurricane forms north of the islands (Omar adn Bonaire in 2008). Generally only a few days of disturbances and then OK. I would not avoid any trip schedules for hurricane season.