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Is there any difference in visibility between a flood tide and an ebb tide?
If so, which one is better to dive on?
In my experience there is no difference. The vis will be determined by other factors - recent rains (shore run off), proximity to shore, recent weather conditions (huge surf, etc.), temperature/sunlight blooming algae, etc. The topography of the area would have an impact as well.
Is there any difference in visibility between a flood tide and an ebb tide?
If so, which one is better to dive on?
Totally site-dependent and/or condition-dependent. In general, an ebb tide tends to cause lower vis close to shore because it's pulling out bits of silt and algae ... but that's not always the case.
Some sites will have stronger currents on an ebb or flood ... depending on whether or not shore topography creates an eddy in one direction or the other. In these cases, the stronger current will cause lower vis due to sediment being pulled up off the bottom.
Around here, vis is far more affected by weather ... which causes runoff when it rains, and algae blooms when it shines ... than by the tides.
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Around here most people go out during a flooding tide or near cresting rather than ebbing tide for better viz for shore diver. I dont think it is just the case of having to walk further back up the beach after the tide has gone out. Of course sometimes due to the nature of the current you want to hit around high or low tide to avoid the big flow. Of course many other factors can affect viz as Matt points out with other climatic conditions, but all things being equal i have discussed that being an arguement to avoid a place during an ebbing tide on some sites around FL.
Is there any difference in visibility between a flood tide and an ebb tide?
If so, which one is better to dive on?
It depends on where you are. In the PNW (assuming it's like BC) it's all deep water and it doesn't seem to make any difference.
Where I live now many of the popular shore-dive sites are in a water-way that's only 30 metres deep and the tidal flow can move a lot of silt around. High tides bring clearer water from the North Sea into the inlets and it can make a noticable difference. (4 metres viz instead of 3 ... )
I find that where I dive usually the cold clear water is pushed up by the flood tides and the silty stuff is sucked back from shore on the ebb, so I prefer a flood to high slack dive for vis.
It depends a lot on the tidal exchange. In the Pacific Northwest if it's a double digit exchange you will have better vis on the flood tide. I've seen 15 foot exchanges in the Puget Sound / Hood Canal area.
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Originally Posted by OE2X
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