When is it too rough on the Gulf?

Danzebub · Nov 4, 2009

Recently finished my NAUI certification and am trying to watch for a good first day on the gulf. I'm coming out of Venice FL and was wondering if anyone can recommend a max wind and gusts so we have an easy first time out. I'm not really sure how it affects chop or waves once we get out a little ways.

lowviz · Nov 4, 2009

Start with: South Marine Text Forecasts by Zone

0-1 ft seas, tell the boss you have to leave work now.
1-2 ft seas, you can feel the constant rocking, but still very nice conditions
2-3 ft seas, you know you are on the ocean.
2-4 ft seas, This is the norm for inshore (you will get used to it)
3-5 ft seas, getting rough.
4-6 ft seas, probably called at the dock unless all experienced divers
6-8 ft seas, been there, forget it. Had the good sense to stay on the boat.

Oh yes, the forecast is just that.

I use a patch whenever I'm on the water, the Atlantic can turn on you in the course of a few hours.

By the way, WELCOME to the board. Let us know how it went...

Goindrinkn · Nov 5, 2009

Congrats on the certification. If you're out of Venice, where are you looking to go? and what are you going in? The reason is it's not just wind speed you should be considering. Wind and wave direction plays a part, along with the seas and what's out beyond the coast.

There's days like Saturday where you can be in rolling 3's where being out there in a 20 footer is no big deal, or other days where a short period 3 can be choppy enough to put a beating on a 35 footer.

People may offer a number of sites to look at as well, I usually check on the following in addition to the weather.

Venice, Florida Surf Forecast and Surf Report
Venice Beach Surf Report, Surf Forecast and Surf Webcams

Are you going out on a private boat or with a charter? If you are chartering, most of the local captians will not run if conditions are not safe / favorable. Noone will have fun diving if they are over the rails puking on the way out. Plus what's happening on top of the water may or may not effect what's going on at the bottom. Flat days can have bad current or bad vis, and rough days may be just fine.

Missdirected · Nov 5, 2009

Welcome to the board danzebub. They fella's have given you some great advice/insight. Here are a couple of links you might be keen on having a look at - not for weather of course just to get to know some of your neighbors:

This is the main forum for FL: Florida Conch Divers - ScubaBoard These two sub-forums offer more on the area you are in: Venice Fossil Divers - ScubaBoard & The Greater Tampa Bay Area - ScubaBoard The GTBA is a bit away but you will find many are often diving Venice or Anna Maria.

racedude1984 · Nov 5, 2009

looks like saturday and sunday are going to be great for diving venice, especially with alot of people at the DEMA show.

Jupiter31 · Nov 5, 2009

racedude1984:
looks like saturday and sunday are going to be great for diving venice, especially with alot of people at the DEMA show.

Uh, maybe not - did you look at the forecast for Venice this weekend:

Small Craft Advisory

Synopsis...WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AS STRONG SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE PUSHES DOWN FROM THE NORTHWEST AND AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE WESTERN GULF. WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD...BUT BECOME EASTERLY AS THE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK AND TROPICAL CYCLONE IDA MOVES NORTH INTO THE SOUTHERN GULF. FOR THE LATEST ON IDA SEE THE LATEST ADVISORIES BEING ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.

Tonight...Northeast winds around 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet building to 4 to 6 feet late. Bay and inland waters choppy.

Friday And Friday Night...Northeast winds around 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Bay and inland waters choppy.

Saturday Through Monday Night...East winds around 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Bay and inland waters choppy.

Tuesday...East winds around 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

racedude1984 · Nov 5, 2009

I was looking at this- Venice, Florida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

I'm not planning on gpomg in a boat.

lowviz · Nov 5, 2009

Missdirected:
....... Here are a couple of links you might be keen on having a look at - not for weather of course just to get to know some of your neighbors:...

You just deal with the weather, spend your time getting hooked up with your local diving buds. -Excellent advice, Missdirected...

Dr Wu · Nov 5, 2009

When the top of the ladder is bouncing higher than the bottom of the dive flag on the boat's mast it would be a good time to find another activity.

Missdirected · Nov 5, 2009

lowviz:
You just deal with the weather, spend your time getting hooked up with your local diving buds. -Excellent advice, Missdirected...

Not this weekend's weather.

That forecast is awful. :depressed:

Danzebub - definitely try and get to know some in your area and dive with them. We have a lot of great people around that will be happy to dive with ya. Don't be shy about jumping in on a trip thread and asking to tag a long.

When is it too rough on the Gulf?

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