South Eleuthera Scuba Diving Conditions and Forecast: November 2015

Bait fish under the pinnacle reef. PHOTO CREDIT : Ocean Fox Cotton Bay.
Bait fish under the pinnacle reef. PHOTO CREDIT : Ocean Fox Cotton Bay.

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ovember is the transition month into cooler surface temperatures as the mild “cold fronts” start to arrive, driving down the humidity. Beyond the days when the front passes through, the waters are generally calm, skies clear and visibility on the dives is increasing. Once the front arrives and the winds blow from the northwest to east, the south shore of Eleuthera is in the lee and protected from the winds, thus providing more opportunities for winter diving than other locations in the Bahamas. Temperatures should be in the low 80s to very high 70s, wet suits optional. November is the time to be looking for the large pelagic species down on the walls, such as the large spotted eagle rays; if very lucky you might get to see a marlin, sailfish or school of mahi-mahi cruising along the wall. Water visibility is rarely less than 100-feet providing excellent opportunities for photography, with incredible species of coral and tropical fish on either of the boiling holes, Blackbeard’s Treasure Hole, or Anny Bonny’s Bootie Hole. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone back in the States, hopefully you will get to spend some time diving in South Eleuthera’s paradise, friendly people, great food and beautiful beaches with no one on them.

Safety tip for November: Remember to clear your ears early and often to avoid discomfort; blow against a pinched nostril, which simultaneously relaxes the tissues surrounding the Eustachian tube and forces air through it.

Fun tip for November: Review the Shark Feeding Dive and the Shark Dive tab on the website and see which dive looks like the most fun.

Diver tip for November: Too long a surface interval is not good for your health, dive early and dive often.