Dive sites?

[parrotheads]

Hi all...just looking for some local knowledge re the best sites for diving around Abaco during the winter months. I know there are some dive moorings at certain sites, but is there a limit on boat size for using the moorings? And how have the water temps been?

[Knockdown]

Parrot, are you gonna be on a large boat?
The dive spots are mostly just a stones throw offshore of the outer Cays. If you have a small boat/tender and the weather is good you can moor up on the dive buoys.
If you have a large boat, some local knowledge and care should be used to stay clear of the shallow reef spots...but I assume you could still find a buoy that would work. The temps will be cold enough for wetsuits by then!
I would contact some of the dive operations and pick their brains for the best spots.
Green Turtle, Guanna, Treasure have dive shops (along with some others)

[marc]

parrotheads
do not miss the wreck of the San Jacinto at chub rocks. i think that it is one of the best dive spots in the abaco's. line up the north end of chub rocks with the north end of whale cay. run toward chub rocks and drop the anchor when you are in 20' approaching chub rocks.
marc

[parrotheads]

Thanks for the info! We have a 58' trawler, (draft 5'3") but judging from what you said, we will probably try to use our tender for diving as much as possible. We'll follow your suggestions and see what we find! I've read about the San Jacinto, but it always helps to get input from divers who have been there.

Btw, 30 degrees and snowing in Baltimore at the moment...

[mrbill]

fowl cay, sandy cay. both protected 'preserves'

do you have a dodge guide?

iirc, 30' limit on the bouys.

[Alan Brown]

Just got back from a 5-day dive trip to Grand Bahama. Water temps were around 80 degrees. Only used a dive skin and was comfortable. Of course, having a nice hot sun beat down on you between dives helped take away the chill.

During the winter months you will experience water temperatures as low as the high 60's. When I worked as a dive instructor in Nassau, the coldest dive I remember was 68 degrees on an incoming tide one January afternoon. My shorty was all the kept me from freezing to death!!

I would plan to bring a 3mm wetsuit for your winter dives. Although a shorty will usually do the trick for single dives, a full suit will keep you a lot more comfortable.

As far as Sandy Cay and Fowl Cays are concerned, you will have to watch the weather carefully. Their moorings are exposed and the strong E-NE winds that are common during the winter months will reduce underwater visibility and toss your tender around quite a bit.

Perhaps some of the local dive operators can offer you some tips as to where they take their divers during inclement weather.

Good luck and have fun!