Every time dark rain clouds roll in (which happens frequently in a tropical environment) the new divers on the boat look at me and shudder, "Are we still going diving?" Of course! We are going to get wet anyway. Diving in the rain is one of my favorite things to do, at least here in the Mexican Caribbean.

The ocean's character changes during a gentle tropical storm. White chop foams on the ocean before a rain, but once the drops start to patter down, the surface of the sea stretches flat and smooth.


Ocean swells rise and fall like a sheet fluttering slowly in the wind. The color of the water changes, from a clear tropical blue to an almost opaque silver-green. This has to be partially an effect of the fresh rainwater mixing with the salty ocean. As the raindrops strike the ocean's surface, little splashes bounce up where they hit. Multiplied a million times over, the individual splashes create the effect of a nebulous mist laying just across the top of the water. There is a sense of mystery to the ocean in the rain. As I gaze down at cloudy surface, I think that absolutely anything could be happening underneath.

Underwater, it seems that even the wildlife can sense the electric excitement of a storm. Visibility clears as soon as divers descend a few feet, revealing a world of activity. Light filters through storm clouds, mimicking the light quality of dawn and dusk. These are times when predatory fish are most active hunting, and also times when fish spawn, or mate. During a rain shower, animals exhibit these behaviors in the middle of the day.

Gray Angelfish circle each other in graceful courtship, rising towards the surface. Barracuda prowl the reef, their silver bodies partially disguised in the half light. I usually find more interesting sights to point out to my divers on a rainy day.

Raindrops rap and clack on the surface of the water, just as they do on a roof. The tiny drops make a persistent t-loc t-loc sound, which cumulatively creates a busy, steady roar that divers can hear underwater. At depth, I can just hear the hum of the rain in the background. As I ascend towards the surface, I imagine that I can begin to hear individual drops touching down. Just before I break the surface, I turn my head up and watch the water bend in, wavering and bubbling from the rain.

On the surface, as we remove our masks and breathe the sharp scent of the rain, I ask, "So, do you like diving in the rain?" which is answered with a resounding, " YES!" I love the scents and sounds, the activity and excitement of a rainy day dive. And I love that during the boat ride home, the equipment washes itself.

Speak Up! Who else likes diving in the rain?

Image copyright istockphoto.com, mike_expert