you don't need a reservation on Tropic, you can just walk up and get
on a flight. Thunderbolt just announced they're running a boat to Corozal this
afternoon at 4 PM. I think people are getting off much sooner this time. Some
people left yesterday. Mata Chica seems to be getting them out, although
there are several sunning on the beach as we boarded up.
Dockside and Blue Tang were boarding up yesterday.
I don't think anyone here is in panic mode, just going
about getting ready. We never had that chance with Keith, it was only supposed
to be a small storm, so lots of us took it lightly. I don't think you'll see
much of that this time. People have been planning for days, preparing for the
worst but hoping for the best.


Weather is beautiful here, of course. Perfect dive conditions. Tides are normal,
wind and sea state is light, mostly sunny. Wind feels like light trades right
now, nothing unusual yet.

the last couple reporting periods are the first time it quit northing. it actually dipped down a tiny bit the last 2 periods. just went west and a tiny bit south.

09 GMT 08/18/01 14.8N 71.3W 60 1003 Tropical Storm
15 GMT 08/18/01 15.0N 73.9W 60 1006 Tropical Storm
21 GMT 08/18/01 15.6N 76.2W 60 1003 Tropical Storm
03 GMT 08/19/01 15.7N 78.2W 60 1000 Tropical Storm
09 GMT 08/19/01 15.5N 78.6W 65 994 Tropical Storm
15 GMT 08/19/01 15.5N 80.3W 70 1004 Tropical Storm

Wind started picking up about 6 PM local. Some whitecaps inside the reef.
Probably going to be like this off and on until we get whatever prevailing
conditions hit us. Everyone is expecting conditions to deterioate until Chantal
passes.


Just a guess of windspeed at present is 20-25 mph. Again, this will vary up and
down for the next 24 hrs, when we expect Chantal to make landfall.

From Joe Miller just now...
=====
Tonite, I think we'll get the squalls you see in front of the storm. I went out at
7:30 local and it was quiet as a church mouse, you could count every star in
the sky...but by daylight, we could be in the stew. Chance of winds...my bet
is increasing during the night until we get steady 40-50 mph by noon
tomorrow. I'm prepared to be wrong, but also think we're prepared.

starting to see
lightning and hear thunder coming this way from the NE. I think that's the
good-sized blossom in front of the real McCoy. We'll be wet by midnight local
fer sure.

Just talked with our friends there on the island, every family is getting ready... All the houses are being boarded up, and boats taken into the mangrove... They are experiencing a little high wind and gust, and just now are receiving rain.... We'll talk with them in the AM.... Let's all hope it goes north, which I think it will.. Rick

I hope all works out ok for you all down there ! We're all praying for you guys in Texas. I know all eyes and prayers are on you guys!!

just spoke to the island, here's what Joe Miller said:
==================

getting strong squalls, hard blowing rain, probably 30 mph w/ 45-50
gusts...steady chop in the sea, but tides are just slightly over
normal..wind is from north, so I figure she's at a right angle to us about
now...

Maya Island announced they will stop flights off the island at 1 PM local

getting VERY hard to get on internet right now...probably everybody with a
computer is getting their news and sat photos from the net...that's what
we'll do (when we can get a connection) as long as we have electricity and
phone...

From Sundiver:
=======
the weather is up and down
We have had some good rain storms this morning. There are boats on the water
still. the wave action on the reef has picked up in the last hour but the
surf inside the reef is pretty calm. wind rain and the ocean are blowing
south.

the wind has suddenly stopped to nothing. just briefly probably.

from sundiver:
still pretty calm but we are getting some pretty good rollers every 5
minutes. Still moving south.
I have felt no pressure like we did with Keith when we all had headaches but
nothing yet just hot and humid.

The water has come up and we are get rollers ever few minutes but nothing
like the Friday before Keith
looking at it I think we have 2 feet more to come before the piers are under


[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 08-20-2001).]