Winter Diving in Gulf of Mexico?

[Jakestg]

Hey,

Summer is pretty much over and I was wondering if diving in the gulf of mexico during the winter time is any different than diving in the summer time. I know the temperatures are going to be drastically different but what about visibility and stuff like that? Do they even run dive boats in the winter time?

Thanks,

Jake

 

[Hetland]

I know the temperatures are going to be drastically different

Gets down to 52° or so. Colder at the surface, warmer at the bottom. Inshore is usually colder than offshore.

but what about visibility and stuff like that?

Predicting visibility in the Gulf is like eating soup with chopsticks, not impossible, but not easy either. The span between December and April usually has rougher seas, but sea surface condition predictions are just a tad more accurate than viz predictions

Do they even run dive boats in the winter time?

Yes, but winds/waves in the Winter tend to be higher, so be prepared for a good captain to let you know when things are too rough, and be honest with them about your training and experience.