oceanava
Registered
SBRIS,
I spoke to one of the operators and they advised me conditions are very rough this time of year. Not really interested in a rough ride or bad conditions, what do you think of SABA or one of the neighboring islands ?
Hi Murphy, I also find that really odd! Can I ask which operation you talked to? (Feel free to message me privately -- this is a small island and word gets around.) I am pretty new to diving here, but St. Maarten is considered an all-year diving destination and the winds are calmest in the summer, when ocean conditions are overall better. Late summer is the hurricane season (June, July, August) and is prone to hurricanes, tropical storms, and big rains, which can quickly ruin diving conditions. I went out 4 days after Tropical Storm Elsa a few weeks ago, and the visibility was unfortunately shot. I will say that this summer has been windier than is typical, and there have been a lot of waves the last few times I've gone out. Perhaps the operator was describing the current conditions and not necessarily the whole season?
As for Saba, I doubt the conditions would be any better if conditions were bad in St. Maarten. Saba is close to St. Maarten and less protected given its steep formation. If visibility is bad in one, I would think it would be bad at the other. The sites in Saba are much deeper, so it has that going for it. I was diving there 2 weeks ago and while the visibility was fairly poor at times, the sites and coral formations are amazing and made up for it. The ferry started operating just as I left -- yes, it is about 90 minutes or more. It can be a rough ride, but with half a Mercalm tab and a drybag (the ferry windows are not particularly well-sealed), I experienced no seasickness or discomfort. You can also take a Winair flight -- the premier dive operator on Saba, Sea Saba, says this:
"One of the more frequently asked questions divers have about Saba concerns the risks associated with diving, flying and hiking. For decades, divers have been flying to Saba from St. Maarten, conducting two-three dives and returning to St. Maarten the same day without any known cases of decompression sickness resulting directly from the short 12-minute Winair flight. This is due, in part, to the flight not exceeding an altitude of 2500 feet (and frequently much less) as well as its short duration. However, as you remember from your introductory scuba course, there is an increased risk associated with flying after diving. In particular, if you are planning to depart on an international flight from St. Maarten, you should adhere strictly to the guidelines of your certifying agency and allow sufficient time for off-gassing."