When I look out at the ocean and see the "smooth" lines...........

tyesai · Aug 12, 2011

So when I look out at the ocean and I see the "smooth" lines, what exactly should that tell me? Is that the different currents? I've been wondering this since I moved close enough to the ocean to look at it daily. Probably a silly question but I'm grateful for an answer. I grew up in Western NY and although I love swimming, snorkeling and diving in the ocean it seems I know next to nothing about it.

MaxBottomtime · Aug 12, 2011

Yes, they are likely currents. It could also be wind in the rougher areas, but most times it's current. My fiancee and I like to drop in them to photograph jellies drifting by. We clip a liftbag and spool to our rig and hang below in the current. It's easier to photograph jellies when you are traveling at the same speed.

Thalassamania · Aug 12, 2011

Actually they're called, "whitings" (that's pronounced: "white-ings")and no one knows what causes them. I know a few physical oceanographers who have, as an aside to their normal research, been looking into that question for more than a few years, still no good answers.

MX727 · Aug 12, 2011

I don't think those are whitings: Whitings

I always thought those wave free areas were spots were waves cancelled each other out, a null, if you will.

Thalassamania · Aug 12, 2011

Could be, I'm really not sure, looks a lot like what people call whitings down in the Bahamas. It's interesting that you posted the piece that you did, the last conversation I had with someone concerning whitings was with Gene Shinn.

When I look out at the ocean and see the "smooth" lines...........

Please register or login

tyesai

Contributor

MaxBottomtime

Contributor

Thalassamania

Diving Polymath

MX727

Contributor

Thalassamania

Diving Polymath

Similar threads