Water conditions on the West Coast?

[NJSunWorshiper]

What's the best way to know what the water conditions will be like on the west coast beaches while we are still aboard our ship? Our cruise is in Jan and I've heard it can be rough or very calm. Can I tell by how strong the winds are and which direction they are blowing? Would something in the weather report tell me?

 

I don't want to trek up to a beach to find out its too hard to snorkel with my young kids. They just want to play at the Boatyard like we did last year, but the adults prefer a snorkeling beach.

[Aplmac]

What's the best way to know what the water conditions will be like

on the west coast beaches,while we are still aboard our ship?

Our cruise is in Jan and I've heard it can be rough or very calm. ===> true.

 

Can I tell by how strong the winds are

and which direction they are blowing? ===> no - that's South Coast conditions,sorry.

 

Would something in the weather report tell me? ===> somehow I doubt it..

 

I don't want to trek up to a beach

to find out its too hard to snorkel with my young kids. ===> understandable.

They just want to play at the Boatyard like we did last year,

but the adults prefer a snorkeling beach.

Between October and March, seasonal North Swells come pumping down from time to time,

completely un-announced and completely altering sea conditions on the placid West Coast!

And making underwater visibility conditions very difficult for snorkellers

-not to mention the stinging cells from the fire coral

that get knocked off by the wave action("sea-lice" as people erroneously call this..)

 

 

 

There are subtle signs that you might pick up from the upper deck of your ship

tied up alongside at Bridgetown Port.

Looking North along the West Coast you might notice small waves breaking along the point/s...

- also look for a generally milky,not-too-clear quality to the normally-crystalline-clear coastal waters.

 

Like I said, these are subtle signs that an old islander surfy like me would pick up on

since we know what to look for, and if I were there to point out this and that..... :(

 

 

If it's a big pumper of a swell, it may be more obvious:

you might stand on deck as your ship closes with the island

and look for wave action on the headland reefs (binoculars?)

 

 

_____________________________________

Hmmm....alternatively..ring a local surfy?

Alan Burke is our local Surf Champion Hero-dude

He has a Surf Lessons website at

http://www.surfbarbados.com/services_surf_lessons.htm

with a tel.number down at the bottom..262-1099

 

If THEY don't know a North Swell is happening or not

you're toast! :D

[NJSunWorshiper]

Aplmac,

Thank you for such a clear, detailed answer! You are a big help!