Oh no, tell us it ain’t so, September and the ‘off season’ have arrived. But, for those of you not affected by school start dates, it remains an excellent month to DIVE ABACO! The crowds have gone home and the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here. If you can sneak away, hotels that are open are offering accommodations at reduced out of season rates. Abaco offers a wide range of diving opportunities and marine life is abundant.
Conditions are near perfect, with little or no wind and seas are normally calm. Both water and air temperatures peak this month— water temp is 84-to-86°F and air temperature is averaging 88°F. There is still no evidence of algae bloom and current is non-existent along the world’s third longest barrier reef. We continue to enjoy the presence of silversides in the tunnels and swim throughs. Their sheer volume attracts a lot of predators—grouper, snapper and jacks—and it is an opportunity for photographers, or divers simply wanting to observe a variety of local marine life.
Abaco ambassadors and resident Nassau grouper, Gidget and Gulliver, have been faithful dive companions again this season, as have an abundance of turtles that tend to visit us daily. It is mating season for the Caribbean reef sharks, so no shark dives. They seem to disappear around this time every year and don’t reappear until late October, but a few nurse sharks are hanging around.
Crawfish (lobster) season is in full swing, but it is recommended you contact or check in with the Department of Marine Resources in Marsh Harbour (telephone 242-367-3482) for rules and regulations and to familiarize yourself with the boundaries of the protected areas. A couple of the most well-known protected areas encompass the Fowl Cay National Underwater Park and the Sandy Cay National Land and Sea Park. Keep in mind it is unlawful to spear fish, including crawfish, while on SCUBA or within 200 yards of any shoreline in the Out Islands. It is also illegal to remove anything from the ocean floor while on SCUBA within the Islands of the Bahamas.
Come and explore Abaco at your own pace. We’ll leave the light on if we know you are coming!