Elsewhere in the World

El Niño affects the weather around the world, and therefore the diving as well. Reports from Papua New Guinea have water visibility lower and wind higher than normal for this time of the year. Fortunately, PNG’s biggest dive attraction is muck diving for weird creatures, so lower vis has not represented much of a problem. Also, boats in PNG have a good selection of alternate sites with different conditions.

Micronesia is expecting rainfall 10–15 percent above normal from June through September, with an active southwest monsoon. By October, the winds should recede, and October through January 1998 is expected to be 15-20 percent drier than normal. Runoff is not a major factor in diving there. I have not heard any reports so far of altered diving conditions in Palau or Truk.

In Hawaii, El Niño is associated with below-normal wintertime rainfall, but the best news may be for the Caribbean. As we reported earlier, this year’s hurricane season was expected to be very active, but El Niño may be changing that prediction. The strong west-to-east winds generated by El Niño blow into the Atlantic hurricane cradle and tend to blow tropical disturbances apart before they can develop into hurricanes. This may be the year to take advantage of lower hurricane-season rates and do a Caribbean trip.

J. Q.