Abaco SCUBA Conditions and Forecast: Nov. 2013

An Abaco French angle just waiting to welcome you to the underwater world of The Bahamas. PHOTO CREDIT: KEITH ROGERS.
An Abaco French angle just waiting to welcome you to the underwater world of The Bahamas. PHOTO CREDIT: KEITH ROGERS.

Cooler air and water temperatures tell us it’s November and time to pull out the wetsuit for the season ahead. Air temperatures are delightfully mild, summer thunderstorms are over, humidity drops and sunny, clear skies become the norm. The sea state is usually no more than two feet with little or no current and visibility on the reef remains as pristine as ever for divers and snorkelers to enjoy. Air temperature ranges from 71 degrees to 81 degrees and water temperature averages 79 degrees. As November progresses, winds from the northeast start to prevail. As long as these fronts stay north of 27°N, we are spared their blustery winds and choppy seas. If and when one does blow through, it is gone within a day or two and conditions return to normal quickly.  During this time, we take advantage of diving the inland blue holes and drift diving at dive sites accessible by land transportation.

Out on the reef, dive sites are plentiful with various species of grouper, shark and rays, in addition to the colorful juvenile tropicals along with the larger reef fish, including blue tangs, jacks, sergeant majors, yellowtails, and perhaps a barracuda or two. It is time to be looking for the large pelagic species along the mini-wall, like spotted eagle rays.

We are fortunate that Abaco offers a wide variety of dive opportunities from the novice to the most experienced diver – along with many photo opportunities. Whether you enjoy the shallower, more colorful areas of the reef; cruising along mini-walls; meandering through caverns with light beams dancing on the sand floor; winding your way through swim-throughs; the excitement of a shark observation dive or simply admiring the various species of fish, Abaco will not disappoint.