Roatan in January?

[divnlite]

wow some great posts and trip reports here on Roatan and Utila. Since our (husband/dive buddy and me) Thanksgiving trip to Cozumel has been cancelled due to Wilma we are looking at booking a trip to Roatan and more specifically CCV.
We are new divers, OW/Nitrox certs and looking for a good trip to rack up (enjoy) some ocean dives in a relaxed setting.
Anyway to my questions;
How is CCV in January? Good time to go? :06:

As one person put in their trip report that CCV is a good place for pretty fish, interesting walls, little current and lots of diving in less than 80fsw (exactly what I am looking for) I now only need to verify WHEN to go. I'm thinking ASAP but looking for experienced advice.

Help me out here all you Roatan travelers.
Thanks!

 

[Tomdive]

Go as late in Jan as you can. The rainy season on Roatan isnt usually over untill the end of Jan. If you can postpone your trip for a few weeks,the weather has a much better chance of being good.

 

[Doc]

Go as late in Jan as you can. The rainy season on Roatan isnt usually over untill the end of Jan. If you can postpone your trip for a few weeks,the weather has a much better chance of being good.

That's about it. The further after storm season, the better! January can be rainy.

This is an oft heard question. Here's a way to think about it...

Altho Roatan and the Bay Islands are usually "below" (South) of the normal Hurricane track, look at thos pix of the storms from the satellites. See those pinwheel
waves of clouds that spiral out from the dangerous and destructive center? Those are bands of heavy rain producing clouds.

These storms are generated right off the Equator of Africa and then head West towards the Caribbean. Watch them on the satellite... not just when they threaten your favorite dive spot- watch them as they begin and march towards Central America.

They usually bounce Northward off of Venezuala and head "up", insulating the ABC islands from most contact. (Any mystery here why they are "desert" islands?).

Any time they near a land mass, they are pushed North. There are two large land masses in the way on the path to the Bay Islands. Unfortunately, this is bad news for Belize to Yucatan areas.

These Huricanes form during the so called "Hurricane Season". That doesn't mean that Africa quits "laying eggs"... watch- the storms continue to come Westward off of the African continent.

After November they are less frequent and way less energetic. Then there's the cold air that pushes down from Canada at that time. Everything conspires to make the hard storms die out.

Still, the spawned storms off of Africa try to get to the Caribbean... and they do throughout the first months of the new year. January and February can be kind of rainy, the further South that one stays in the Mar Caribe.

March-August are perfect for people who are frightened of sunny days mixed with sprinkles (January-March). Still, each month, each season on the reef is different.

It is incredible the difference in critters that you may note from one month to the next makes enduring the awful weather worthwhile!

 

[divnlite]

ok, while certainly not 'afraid' of mixing sprinkles and sun on a dive trip, wondering if maybe not such a good idea for super newbie first time ocean diving trip. Also would not be an issue to postpone for a month or so and go later in the spring.:116:

That still leaves the issue of where can we go soon (like now)? Bonaire is mentioned, but is it really much different (weather wise) during January?

Roatanman- saw your trip to Galapagos report, brought back memories from our live-aboard trip in 2003. Unfortunately we were not certified divers then but we did snorkel everyday in under 60 degree water in only swimsuits and even sometimes in the rain. Turtles and sealions and rays, oh my! fun fun fun

But really now all you travelers, suggestions for places to go within the next couple months???? The lake around here is getting cold and catfish and texas chiclids are getting used to us....

 

[Lisa0825]

But really now all you travelers, suggestions for places to go within the next couple months???? The lake around here is getting cold and catfish and texas chiclids are getting used to us....

Another Texan here, who has been wondering the same... I've been surfing the travel sites looking for deals.

 

[Tomdive]

Im heading to Bonaire and Curacao in Jan. The weather is consistantly better. Bonaire is a very arid island. If you are concerned about being a "super newbie',Bonaire is the place to go. Im bringing my son and his friend on their first ocean diving trip. Dive sites are very protected,very little if any currant,great vis and lots of options for shore and boat diving. Ive been to a number of places in the Carribean and found Bonaire to be the best beggining diving around (In my humble opinion). Lots of life in shallow water. There is a gently sloping reef and you can pick whatever depth you like to ensure good bottom times. There are generally divers of all skill levels in Bonaire so you dont need to feel alone if you dont have much experience. Hey...everybody on this board was a newbie at some point. I would highly recommend Bonaire for a first time Salt water dive.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Our shop went to AKR the last week of January this week and they all had a great time. But the week before divers only got out a couple of days so it's a crap shoot.

Next year we signed up for March.

 

[Doc]

But really now all you travelers, suggestions for places to go within the next couple months???? The lake around here is getting cold and catfish and texas chiclids are getting used to us....

Bonaire is in my Mar Caribe Top Three.

The weather should be nice and there is interesting opportunities to advance your diving career with simple to advanced shore diving. This is a great place to learn!

When in Bonaire- stray from the beaten path... check out the restaurants that the locals chow down at!

Al- there's less of a "crap shoot" on any of the Bay Islands if you are staying/diving the South side during the rainy season. Icky stuff comes from the North. Also know that any time freezing cold hits Texas, the North side of Roatan turns caca-poopoo for three days plus- It's called a "Norther". These run through March.

 

[divnlite]

Yes, in the next couple of months, doubt I could get my husband out of here within the next month but maybe. Only looking to January as last minute bookings are not always available and can make a HUGE difference in airfare costs.

Bonaire looks wonderful and it was in the plan anyway so moving it up in the order of trips...no problemo...

Throw me some ideas for places to stay, dive ops etc... have already started researching but whew lots to wade through.

We are pretty self sufficient and more inclined to the 'rustic' or 'culturally significant' than a big fancy smancy resort. Not concerned with night life we're going to dive and take in the culture of the island. We do love good food and preferably where the natives eat!!!! My husband will eat anything, especially if he's never even heard of it...
We spent a month in South America, stayed with an indiginous family on Amantani Island (lake Titicaca) and stayed in some extremely remote places (including tents) and loved it. Heck even here at home we tend to stray to the out of the way Taqueria, where everyone in the kitchen comes out to say hi and the TV is constantly on Univision.

Would like to stay where diving is convenient, I'm a small person and lugging gear too far would limit my diving. Believe me, my husband IS NOT going to carry my gear for me...LOL But from what I see most diving seems convenient in Bonaire. Kitchens or kitchenettes seem a plus as well.

Looking for one or two boat dives a day or the option of that along with shore diving. Will probably stay around 10 days due to the lost time traveling. Seems a bit of a pain in the butt to get there.

This is so fun!!!! I already love diving and so far 3 to 5 feet vis has been the norm, I'm going to LOVE being able to see stuff!!!