How to predict visibility.

[mainsailman]

I now live in an area that seems prone to murky water. Is there a way to predict visibility? Tidal coefficients, weather, etc...

 

[tursiops]

I now live in an area that seems prone to murky water. Is there a way to predict visibility? Tidal coefficients, weather, etc...

No, not really. You can list factors that likely will degrade the visibility, and maybe list specific time periods related to tides that will be better or worse, but absolute viz predictions are not available. Rains, silty bottoms, currents, winds (enough to drive waves that can reach the bottom), plankton blooms, all can contribute to poor viz. Flood tides usually bring in clearer water, ebb tides are the worst. For some specific location, with a lot of data, you could probably produce a statistical/empirical model that has a little skill. One problem is there is no reliable, agreed measurement of visibility.....a lot of prior work is on vertical visibility, but divers care mostly about horizontal.

 

[Steve_C]

Time of day and clouds? For a given ammount of stuff visibility can depends a lot on the ammount of light reaching your depth.

 

[tursiops]

Time of day and clouds? For a given ammount of stuff visibility can depends a lot on the ammount of light reaching your depth.

Sure. Viz is worse at night, too.

 

[diver 85]

Best way to predict???-------stick your head in (with a mask on-----of course) & open your lids..........

 

[tursiops]

Best way to predict???-------stick your head in (with a mask on-----of course) & open your lids..........

We all thank you for the useful input.