Those storms hurting diving any this week?

Barry, I've been diving on Bon a couple of times when there have been tropical storms far far out, and the only thing that they do is maybe give a little more wave action (in some spots they may get to 2 feet...tee hee)...for additional info see this:

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/27/231585.html?1121096248#POST266401

We are flying to Bonaire this weekend and Emily is forecast to be in Jamaica on Saturday. Ack! That is our connection to Bonaire.

DrDuktayp

DrDuktayp...ack is right! I'll keep my trap shut on experiences of turbulants, and automatic pilot buttons falling through the control panel, and such. Good luck! If conditions are too bad, they won't let fly...that's comforting, right?

For info on Emily, this is a great site.

Good luck Thomas.

Mr. Bachant, well this is one of those times when having all that extra dive equipment will be reassuring. Extra weight in the high winds to anchor you down and, you can pay for your lost vacation with pick up salvage work while you are waiting in Montego bay.

Bad Geoff, that's an awful sense of humor, what are you thinking?

We're just watching for now. At this point the prediction is 20% for Emily affecting Bonaire, but it's too early to tell. We may know more tonight.

I'll meet you in Montego Bay as I'll also be flying to Bonaire with my fingers crossed. It looks like a very full flight I snagged the fourth seat left on Monday. Will be there for two weeks. The National Weather Service has a great site. Best wishes Jerry

The local news here is that we are expecting to feel Emily tomorrow. We are expecting high winds (between 55-70 mph), rain, t-storms, etc. Projected to start in mid afternoon. It's 9:45 pm and it's still as can be, humid. All the boats are in the harbor...hmmmm We shall see.

Liz

Boy, I hope Emily decides to take a hike further north....good luck, guys...batten down the hatches and hang in there. Hope there is no tidal surge with this one....Carole

Hurricane Emily Advisory Number 13


Statement as of 11:00 PM AST on July 13, 2005



...Emily becomes a hurricane in the Windward Islands...
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Grenada...St. Vincent...The
Grenadines...and St. Lucia.

At 11 PM AST...0300z...the government of Venezuela has extended the
Tropical Storm Warning westward from Cumana to punto fijo on the
paraguana peninsula.

At 11 PM AST...the government of Barbados has discontinued the
Tropical Storm Warning for Barbados.

A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for Trinidad...
Tobago...and the northern coast of Venezuela from Pedernales
westward to punto fijo...including Isla Margarita and the offshore
islands north of the coast and west of Cumana.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bonaire...Curacao...and
Aruba.

Interests elsewhere in the central Caribbean should monitor the
progress of Emily.

For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

At 11 PM AST...0300z...the center of Hurricane Emily was located
near latitude 11.9 north... longitude 61.1 west or about 45
miles... 70 km... east-southeast of Grenada.

Emily is moving toward the west near 18 mph ...30 km/hr...and this
motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours. On this
track...Emily will pass through the Windward Islands tonight and
emerge in the southeastern Caribbean Sea early Thursday.

Data from a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft indicates that
maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph...150
km/hr...with higher gusts. Emily is a category one hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the
next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles... 35 km...
from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up
to 115 miles...185 km.

The most recent minimum central pressure reported by the
reconnaissance aircraft was 992 mb...29.29 inches.

Emily is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6
inches across the Windward Islands...Trinidad and Tobago...portions
of northern Venezuela...and the Netherlands Antilles...with
possible isolated amounts of 12 inches over mountainous terrain.
These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud
slides.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide
levels can be expected near and to the north of the path of the
center.

.................

YIKES !

Uggghhh... last year it was cozumel and Ivan, this year Bonaire and Emily.. I gotta start picking better travel dates. Cross your fingers that we get to at least land in Montego Bay, I really don't want to be stuck in LA. I wonder what AJ did for the folks that were cancelled with Dennis. Anyone know?

For those of us already on Bonaire, the weather forecast is improving. Emily is tracking northwest and, if it stays on this track (a typical hurricane track down here) it will pass far enough to the north of us that we will just get some rain and wind, also typical.

For those of you flying AJ on Saturday, however, that track will take the hurricane's center just south of Jamaica. You might want to reconfirm your reservations frequently between now and Saturday. Flyers who do that are likely to be moved by AJ to available seats on other airlines. Flyers who merely show up at the airport Saturday morning are likely to be told they are not coming to Bonaire. I base this prediction on numerous stories I have heard from friends and read on BT in recent months. AJ cancels many flights even if the weather is good. I sincerely hope I am wrong in worrying that they might simply cancel.

Go here to follow Hurricane Emily:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/091420.shtml?3day

The very best of luck to us all, and may we all have happy outcomes!
Tish

Two years ago a hurricane hit Jamaica on the day we were flying to Bonaire. The AJ plan didn't fly. We quickly got on the Delta plane to Atlanta then flew to PR then to Bonaire on AA. We reached Bonaire in one long day!

Always knew you two were smart, John and Sue! Great save of a vacation!
Another good route is from the US non-stop to Aruba or Curacao. If you can bypass landing anywhere in the Caribbean, you somewhat improve your chances of not getting grounded by a hurricane.
Tish

I thought Emily was supposed be around Bonaire by 2:00 p.m. or so. Is it close? Are you expecting any surge?

Ed, I think it was 2:00 a.m. and not p.m. but don't quote me. The skies are definitely getting darker on Bonaire. Hope all will be well and there won't be any flooding or tidal surge damage sustained. Keep those prayers coming in, folks! Carole

We are going somewhere...hopefully Bonaire. We have an alternate set of plans in place and may end up at Fantasy Island if it looks like AJ won't be flying on Saturday. Tomorrow morning we find out.

We are still hoping Emily will fizzle out...

From the various reports I've seen, it looks like Emily kind of clipped Bonaire. How are things there? Did you have waves/wind/surge?

this is the first time i have ever seen bonaire on a weather map on network tv. hoping not to see it again! someone should've explained to emily that bonaire isn't in the hurricane belt.

Hello everyone! The threat must be officially over because the US State Department just issued a travel warning for Jamaica and the Caymans because of Emily. You can go here to read it: http://travel.state.gov

Hmmm...not much better if you are connecting through Montego.

Well looks like our much awaited trip to Bonaire will not happen. ;( With Emily expected to hit Jamaica tomorrow we won't be able to fly in and are not able to find any other flights to bonaire. We leave today from Alaska and so will be going to Roatan instead. (I am soo bummed) Oh well.. the adventure continues. Glad that everyone in Bonaire is safe and hope to see the island another year.

Susan,
Can't you fly to Aruba or Curacao? Easy to get here from either of those islands. Bummer!!
Not a good idea to go to Roatan. It could get hit by a hurricane. Bonaire is much safer during hurricane season.
No, Emily did not clip us, Edward. It was a non-event. Nothing happened. The hurricane's diameter was so small that we didn't even feel a tropical storm. Did not even rain last night.
Tish

That's great news Tish! Thanks for the update.

It's ironic I started the thread. I won't be coming after all so my diving was impacted for sure. Looks like it will be Freeport for me this time. I have waited so long to dive Bonaire.....sob.......

From the latest news I have seen Emily will impact the Yucatan Sat/Sun and will come close to the Bay Islands (Roatan) so diving may not be all that good. Will probably have high seas with large waves. Be sure and check NOAA before going to Roatan.
Andy

Barry and Susan, wow...definitely a bummer...dive safely wherever you go...

Due to the cancelled AJ flight and all the full flights to BON we decided to go to Roatan. While in the airport waiting for our flight out of alaska the travel agent called to tell me they had just issued warnings for Roatan.. what to do.. what to do. Our motto became "The adventure continues!" and so we continued on hoping that our flight would land us someplace warm and tropical. We ended up at Anthony's Key Resort and are having a wonderful time. Only effect we had from Emily was some increased waves Monday morning.

Now comes the hard part.. getting refunds from AJ and Captn Don's or payment from the insurance company. Thankfully I got the insurance this time. Hmm.. maybe if I can't get a refund I can postpone to a NON- HURRICANE time. I still very much want to see bonaire.

Susan,
I watched Emily's path worrying about you on Roatan. Glad it took another path.
Nice you're enjoying Anthony's Key. I dove from Bay Islands Beach Resort just down the beach. That was in the middle of a tropical depression, every dive a drift dive, very rough.
Good luck with the insurance, and see you soon on Bonaire!
Tish