march diving - Mexico, Caribbean, Florida?

[soonerwatch]

looking for recommendations for best possible conditions for diving in March. This year we were in Akumal, MX and it was too windy most days to go diving in the ocean, we had a great resort "discovery" dive in a cenote dive as a result!

I was thinking about Cozumel next march but my diving instructor mentioned he's tried it several times and that's the windy season and he wasn't able to dive.

Looking for suggestions for a march trip around Caribbean or possibly florida keys? Somewhere a few hours flight from US. Would either of these be better than cozumel? Maybe on an island you could go to alternate side of island to avoid wind.

I know weather is unpredictable but any general advice from past experience would be appreciated.

 

[Doc]

The "best possible conditions" really means (to me) the best statistical probabilities for weather patterns, combine with geographic locations of locale/islands, add in the geological shapes of islands and how that shape plays into specific weather patterns.

Precisely chosen words above. I'm giving you the algebraic equation versus "the one answer".

Akumal and Cozumel are on different planets, certainly in terms of underwater attractions. Cozumel sounds ok to me. Florida Keys in March? Might be too early for Mardis Gras, so not sure why you would try diving then.

The "math": March is the time of year when although the tropical Storm Season has ended, the rain and wind caused by "Northers" from Canada are still possible/just ending, they can still have an effect in places near the shoreline of CONUS. So...look in the Caribbean map...in a curving arc from under Cuba, sweep West to Belize. I would go anywhere South of that line.

In May, the line disappears.

 

[divingjd]

Cozumel would be very different from Akumal. On the mainland, the coastline is exposed to the prevailing winds, which blow out of the east. That means there is a high likelihood of being blown out. In Cozumel, most (virtually all) of the diving is on the west side of the island, sheltered from the prevailing winds. I've been there about 10 times on February and March and only lost a few days of diving to weather. In the winter, the winds sometimes shift to come out of the north. These wind patterns, referred to as "nortes," can close the port and interrupt diving. I don't think the Keys would be better, weather-wise, but someone who is more familiar with the Keys should probably respond to that. I went once in January and got blown out. Don't know if that was typical or unusual. The Caymans are good that time of year and are within a relatively short flight distance.


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[KathyV]

...The Caymans are good that time of year and are within a relatively short flight distance...

Normally I am a big fan of the Caymans but the water temperatures in the Spring are a little cooler than I like; so keep that in mind if you are like me and really like warm water. I find the waters of Florida, Bahamas, and the Caymans a bit cold that time of year and I look toward the southern waters. You might want to consider Curacao.

 

[kwat34]

I was in the keys a few years ago during late March and early April. The weather was off and on some days it was clear and no wind others it was 20mph. I can recommend Rainbow Reef in Key Largo.

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[diversteve]

You might want to consider Curacao.

I agree, mid-April there was no wind for our 10 days on Curacao - actually hotter than we expected. And the water conditions were calm. 99% of the diving on both islands is on the protected west sides - a rough reference to the site locations are the red lines I drew on the map. Or Bonaire - which is maybe even better since the island shelters many of the better dives in the curve of the island and also the 25 circled at Klein Bonaire . Flipside is Curacao is probably a little easier to get to with shorter flights since some of them stop there first before continuing to Bonaire. Depending on where you live either should be direct from one of the gateway hubs like Atlanta or Houston.

Curacao - a Unique Caribbean Island Paradise.
Bonaire Offical Site - Top Destination for Diving and Eco-Activities



Or look at the British Virgin Islands. It's all boat diving there among the various smaller islands mostly. Mostly shallower also, about the only dives exceeding 100' are some of the wrecks. Although the BVI's were constantly windy - big yachting destination - it didn't affect our April diving there either. We canceled no dives except for one wreck considered to be only partially diveable at any time during the year and a long ride out to find out. The easy way to the BVI's is fly into St. Thomas and take the fast ferries - they run all day and it's an hour ride. So reliable you can plan your return flights around them with a couple hour buffer - my friends did. Although you can't dive from them, they have some stunning beaches also.

Welcome to the Official Website of the BVI Tourist Board

 

[drrich2]

Bonaire is below the hurricane belt, and far enough south that the water's pretty warm all year, and Curacao's at about the same level, so these locations are about as close to constant as you'll see in the region all year, not just March. 2 Or 3 degrees water temp. difference maybe between warm & cold parts of the year?

There are some direct flights to Bonaire, such as out of Atlanta (tends to take about 4 hours). 'Brand name' flights (e.g.: Delta) can cost hundreds more than doing part of your flight on Insel, with a layover in Curacao. The, er, 'scheduling' and lack of adherence to it involved with the latter can try your patience though you save hundreds. I've done it once, saved hundreds, made it both ways without missing flights, would be ambivalent about doing it again.

If you decide on one of these 2 islands, do a Search & pull up some threads contrasting the 2. Save you the hassle one one - A Big Marketing Lesson from a Tiny Island - where the factors are discussed a bit. Someone summed the Bonaire advantage up as 'the Easy Button.' Even though in some ways, Curacao is bigger with more stuff.

Richard.