Common Weather Questions

Summer may be the best time of year in the Caribbean, with temperatures in the mid-80s, a constant breeze, and comfortable evenings. Rainy days are very unlikely. Water temperature is around 84 degrees, making it a comfortable place to swim, snorkel, scuba and waterski, without ever getting cold!

Hurricanes rarely approach the islands we sail and dive in.  In fact, hurricanes have forced us to alter our itinerary only twice in our 30-year history. Even so, we have a comprehensive emergency plan for each program location.  In the rare event of a hurricane warning, our fleets head to pre-arranged safe harbors and everyone is moved onshore to designated shelters.  Once the threat has passed, we would re-board our boats and complete the program.

Part of basic seamanship is to monitor the weather every day. In addition to the crews on each boat, our base monitors the weather very carefully. Our staff meets daily with the program director to review the weather forecast and fleet captains are easily able to communicate with each other about changing weather conditions.

If a weather system organizes in the Atlantic, modern weather forecasting services provide plenty of advance notice of its projected path. We plan for boats to return to sheltered areas ("hurricane holes") should the system strengthen and head our way. By knowing days in advance, we are able to move our boats and students to a safe harbor and, if warranted, move students to a designated shelter on land.