How do you judge VIZ

[dumpsterDiver]

I might also use: can i see the tips of my fins.. about 5-6 ft vis, Can i see my fingers of hand 2-3 ft visibility, can I read my guages with a light? If not, then vis is less than 6 inches.

 

[DennisW]

I use guestimated distances from something I can see clearly and/or recognize. Mostly a guess, but I have got pretty good at it over the years. However, Great, OK, Poor, Braile works as well.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I judge by how far I can make out the colors and edges of an image. I don't count seeing a shadowy figure of a rock ten feet away as ten feet of vis. I was diving at Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach one day and had a decent 12-15 feet of vis. Another diver reported 40 feet at the same time. Usually, when someone tells me what the vis was before I go in, I figure it's at least half of what they say.

 

[Buoyant1]

I just have a few categories:

crystal clear
good
average
poor
braille

We used similar terms, but it's usually seasonal:

crystal clear In Florida on vacation
good Spring
average Fall
poor Summer
braille Algae bloom/post rain storm/post OW classes (Aka: "Stevie Wonder" dives)

 

[TMHeimer]

I use the PADI OW manual suggestion: How far can you make out another diver? If solo, I try to imagine that. If it's real bad, I judge furthest distance up when I still see the bottom-- ei. 1 foot, 6 inches, etc.

 

[EmptyTank]

There are really only two categories of viz, either it sux or it doesn't

 

[Hammerhead]

Not as good as it used to be.