Polarized Masks??

[frontstmaui]

I wear polarized Sunglasses (Maui Jims). As I was driving to the other side and noticed how incredibly clear the water was and how vibrant the colors were, I started to Wonder. Would Polarization in a Scuba/Snorkel Mask increase visibility or improve visual performance? Or is Polarization only effective above water?

Not trying to be ignorant here. Just thought of it last night and decided to post the question.

 

[meesier42]

I think that Polarization would be a bad thing underwater, as if you assume light is uniformly scattered polarization by definition blocks 50% (or more) of the light only allowing vertically polarized light to pass through. In air, this is a good thing as it eliminates the light that is horizontally scattered by the water (or road) surface that causes glare, and allows you see through the waters surface.

Well light is critical u/w as water scatters and absorps light at an incredible rate when compared to air. Hence it gets very dark at depth and photographers have to be very careful to control white balance to avoid a severe blue shift.
maybe someone else has an opinion on this, but doubt its a good idea

 

[frontstmaui]

I think that Polarization would be a bad thing underwater, as if you assume light is uniformly scattered polarization by definition blocks 50% (or more) of the light only allowing vertically polarized light to pass through. In air, this is a good thing as it eliminates the light that is horizontally scattered by the water (or road) surface that causes glare, and allows you see through the waters surface.

Well light is critical u/w as water scatters and absorps light at an incredible rate when compared to air. Hence it gets very dark at depth and photographers have to be very careful to control white balance to avoid a severe blue shift.
maybe someone else has an opinion on this, but doubt its a good idea

I now remember how polarization works. Thank you. For some reason I forgot that when you tilt your glasses sideways it doesn't work the same.

With that thought you are correct sir. The light absorbed by water does not, by nature, reflect the same because of the waters characteristics. I knew there was a reason some rocket scientist hadn't polarized a mask yet!

 

[Jai Bar]

I now remember the days when I studied, one of my lecturers in optics (Yoav) was working on underwater polarization techniques for improved UW imagery:

http://www.ee.technion.ac.il/~yoav/publications/polarimetric.pdf

 

[perdidochas]

I wear polarized Sunglasses (Maui Jims). As I was driving to the other side and noticed how incredibly clear the water was and how vibrant the colors were, I started to Wonder. Would Polarization in a Scuba/Snorkel Mask increase visibility or improve visual performance? Or is Polarization only effective above water?

Not trying to be ignorant here. Just thought of it last night and decided to post the question.

Polarization just cuts the glare. It might be useful for snorkeling, but besides that, I doubt it.

 

[mfalco]

The polarization blocks reflected light off the surface of the water allowing you to see into the water better. It won't help underneath.

 

[meesier42]

I now remember the days when I studied, one of my lecturers in optics (Yoav) was working on underwater polarization techniques for improved UW imagery:

http://www.ee.technion.ac.il/~yoav/publications/polarimetric.pdf

ok, well you peaked my interest, but the way I am reading this article water already vertically polarizes light, what further can you gain from vertically polarizing it again??

 

[drdirt]

If light penetrating water becomes completely vertically polarized, then you would have total blackout if you tilted your mask side-ways underwater.

While that might be cool to see, I wouldn't want a mask doing that.