[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ctober is still part of the “off season” with the level of tourist on the island at a minimum. There are less folks diving giving the impression of a private dive charters on every dive. The water temperature in October continues to be 82° to 85°F, wet suits optional. October is the transition month between the summer and winter weather pattern, with the winds being more north-northeast and typically light. As the winds become more north-northeast and the water temperature starts to drop, the visibility begins to increase and is rarely below 100 feet. Humidity is down compared to late July through September; the sun is lower in the sky and the sunsets incredible. October is the time to start looking for the large pelagic species down on the walls, such as the large spotted eagle rays. If you like to do exploration diving, October is a good month, with predictable weather and calm days allowing for “wall swim-drift dives”, where you do a free decent in 60 feet of water and follow the wall with a very modest current, or swim along the wall if no current, scouting for a dive site you get to name, until time for the three-minute safety stop and then surface where the boat is standing by to retrieve the divers.
Safety tip for October: Dehydration reduces the quantity of blood available for gas exchange, slowing gas removal from the body increasing the chances of decompression sickness (“DCS”). The metabolism of alcohol uses a great deal of water, a diver with a hangover is likely to be partially dehydrated, limit alcohol consumption the night before diving to reduce the chances of DCS.
Fun tip for October: Review the “Gallery” tab on the website, check out the coral section and see who identify the most species on your dive.
Diver tip for October: “South Eleuthera diving, the best kept secret in the Caribbean”.