What percentage of dives get cancelled due to weather?

[ABLAB]

Hi @FishWatcher747

Bonaire is easy, I have not missed a day diving in 7 trips, 197 dives.

South Florida is more difficult, I do not specifically track missed dive days. It is not uncommon to miss dive days, particularly in late fall, winter, early spring. Big seas seemed to have come up earlier this year, and seems more persistent. I only dive in Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and West Palm. I make a good effort to get out whenever it's possible, sometimes switching locations.

For 2020 (an unusual year for me due to Covid):
February 3 of 4 days, 6 dives
March 3 of 7 days, 6 dives
June 12 of 12 days, 29 dives
July 7 of 7 days, 20 dives
September 8 of 11 days, 20 dives
OVERALL 33 of 41 days, 81 dives

I'll be giving it at least one more try this year. Looks like seas will be up, at least through the middle of next week

Planning a quick 3 day trip to West Palm either in mid - late Feb or in May. Wandering if you have any thoughts on when is the best time in terms not getting a weather cancellation. Flying in Thursday and out Sunday so I'm basically out of luck if the dives are called because of weather. Also, is May still a good time for an opportunity to see a few sharks (hopefully a hammer or tiger swimming by? I know Feb is supposed to be good for Lemons. Thanks.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @ABLAB

You are correct, May is more reliable than Feb

 

[ABLAB]

Thanks.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Hi @ABLAB

You are correct, May is more reliable than Feb

I agree 100% with @scubadada. May is more reliable. By May we are getting into the calmer season that is governed by the tropics and not northern cold fronts like happens in Feb. Apr-Jun tends to be some of our quietest and best diving. Not a 100% sure thing, but days blown out are far lower in that window.

 

[ABLAB]

I agree 100% with @scubadada. May is more reliable. By May we are getting into the calmer season that is governed by the tropics and not northern cold fronts like happens in Feb. Apr-Jun tends to be some of our quietest and best diving. Not a 100% sure thing, but days blown out are far lower in that window.

Thanks much. Are there sharks still swimming about in May? Would be great to get a glimpse of hammer, tiger, bull. Also, anyone have any experience with the black water dives at Palm Beach? Have done a couple of night dives in Roatan. Those are easy. Little to no currents, within eyesight of shore, and no sharks. But, a little hesitant doing a night time drift dive way off shore with the possibility of running into a shark or two.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Thanks much. Are there sharks still swimming about in May? Would be great to get a glimpse of hammer, tiger, bull. Also, anyone have any experience with the black water dives at Palm Beach? Have done a couple of night dives in Roatan. Those are easy. Little to no currents, within eyesight of shore, and no sharks. But, a little hesitant doing a night time drift dive way off shore with the possibility of running into a shark or two.

Not as many as in February, but there are always sharks in the area. Sometimes we see them, many times we don't. Unless you go on a feeding charter, you are never really 100% guaranteed to see sharks.

As to the blackwater dives, I've never done one. They are really for macro photogs primarily and I'm not one. Others I'm sure who have done them will chime in.

 

[ABLAB]

Appreciate it. Thanks. .

 

[Johnoly]

...is May still a good time for.....hopefully a hammer or tiger swimming by?

Jupiter is known for Sharks.
Mid Feb to Mid March is the hammerhead migration. Tiger sharks are going off right now (beginning December) with daily reports of sightings at the wreck trek. They can be seen at the other months including May but it's a surprise and not frequent.
The 1st week of May is Bull Shark peak season and it's wild on the deep ledge where they will rocket up to greet you as soon as you splash. You'll be deep at 115 and near the Hole-In-The-Wall dive site{nitrox required all dives} In Jupiter we always have a few resident sharks year round but's near feeding sites like Lemon Drop, the wrek trek or if you want reefies>then go to the Tunnels dive site. Talk to your choice of dive shop/boat depending what you want to see/do and ask them well in advance of booking.

 

[happy-diver]

The beauty of diving is your elation when a dive goes ahead, and the things you find to do

when they don't

 

[ABLAB]

Jupiter is known for Sharks.
Mid Feb to Mid March is the hammerhead migration. Tiger sharks are going off right now (beginning December) with daily reports of sightings at the wreck trek. They can be seen at the other months including May but it's a surprise and not frequent.
The 1st week of May is Bull Shark peak season and it's wild on the deep ledge where they will rocket up to greet you as soon as you splash. You'll be deep at 115 and near the Hole-In-The-Wall dive site{nitrox required all dives} In Jupiter we always have a few resident sharks year round but's near feeding sites like Lemon Drop, the wrek trek or if you want reefies>then go to the Tunnels dive site. Talk to your choice of dive shop/boat depending what you want to see/do and ask them well in advance of booking.

Thanks for the reply. I did a Jupiter shark dive there a few years ago. Its actually a lot of fun. Not looking for pure shark dive this time but hoping to see you a few swimming about. Intention is to fine tune my drift diving in stronger currents for a liveaboard in 2025 and my understanding is Palm Beach is a good place for that.