Every season has it's positives and negatives. Our last 2 trips have been in April, as we left last April wifey cried and wanted me to plan another trip. Cozumel was already committed to in July and our next vacation was October so, of course to keep wedded bliss , I started looking at a late fall trip. Well after looking it appears that during this time frame our travel options are United or swimming. This has me concerned. Obviously off season. So can anyone compare/contrast the plusses or minuses of fall travel? I like Bonaire since it is below the hurricane belt but wonder why and what to expect in the way of waves, wind or restaurant closers? Tanks, gotta keep wife happy
October, the good....the bad....the ugly
- Thread starter wildbill9
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Here's my take on the pros and cons of September/October trips to Bonaire...
Pro:
- Low season rates
- Low season airfare (relatively speaking)
- Better availability of your favorite property
- Fewer divers at your favorite sites
- No cruise ships
Con:
- Fewer flights to choose from
- Many restaurants closed (this is when the locals in the tourism trade take their vacations off-island)
- It's hot.
- The wind often lessens and sometimes doesn't blow at all, which makes it feel even hotter.
- Occasional wind reversals cause waves on the leeward side (which sometimes also makes for great diving elsewhere on the island.)
- Tropical storms far to the north are sometimes strong enough to generate large waves that reach Bonaire's west coast.
- Did I mention that when the wind doesn't blow it gets hot? Miserably hot (at least for an Idaho boy like me, anyway.)
We've enjoyed 31 weeks on Bonaire spread over the past 20 years and have visited during the months of January, February, May, June, August, September, and December. We enjoyed every trip for what it was but will never visit the island in late September again. We just couldn't stay in the water often enough and long enough to escape the topside heat combined with lack of wind.
But maybe your experience will be different, or perhaps the heat and humidity without breeze doesn't affect you like it does us.
Pro:
- Low season rates
- Low season airfare (relatively speaking)
- Better availability of your favorite property
- Fewer divers at your favorite sites
- No cruise ships
Con:
- Fewer flights to choose from
- Many restaurants closed (this is when the locals in the tourism trade take their vacations off-island)
- It's hot.
- The wind often lessens and sometimes doesn't blow at all, which makes it feel even hotter.
- Occasional wind reversals cause waves on the leeward side (which sometimes also makes for great diving elsewhere on the island.)
- Tropical storms far to the north are sometimes strong enough to generate large waves that reach Bonaire's west coast.
- Did I mention that when the wind doesn't blow it gets hot? Miserably hot (at least for an Idaho boy like me, anyway.)
We've enjoyed 31 weeks on Bonaire spread over the past 20 years and have visited during the months of January, February, May, June, August, September, and December. We enjoyed every trip for what it was but will never visit the island in late September again. We just couldn't stay in the water often enough and long enough to escape the topside heat combined with lack of wind.
But maybe your experience will be different, or perhaps the heat and humidity without breeze doesn't affect you like it does us.
LOL at wwguy and the heat...
We go to Bon in aug/sept (never been in Oct) to escape the heat. I suspect the same would be true for you, being from Arkansas.
But the cold... I went to Boise one time. Sweet 7lb baby jesus - I've never been so cold and I worked for a year one week, just south of green bay.
Everything else wwguy said is right on the money.
There are restaurant closures, but we never found it to be a big deal - plenty enough open to keep us fed and happy, just sometimes you may miss out on a favorite. But go for 2 or 3 weeks. Your favorite place may re-open sometime during your stay. If not have another beer and look for a new favorite.
We go to Bon in aug/sept (never been in Oct) to escape the heat. I suspect the same would be true for you, being from Arkansas.
But the cold... I went to Boise one time. Sweet 7lb baby jesus - I've never been so cold and I worked for a year one week, just south of green bay.
Everything else wwguy said is right on the money.
There are restaurant closures, but we never found it to be a big deal - plenty enough open to keep us fed and happy, just sometimes you may miss out on a favorite. But go for 2 or 3 weeks. Your favorite place may re-open sometime during your stay. If not have another beer and look for a new favorite.
AdivingBel
Diver
phelana
Contributor
Coral Spawn in October is the best reason to come.
Similar threads
