Victoria Vis conditions?

[Divegoose]

Had a nice long dive (80 minutes) at Oak Leaf on Saturday. A bit soupy in the shallows, but cleared after we passed the thermocline. Estimate 30 - 40 feet of visibility at depth. Highlight of the dive was locating a Penpoint Gunnel near the end of the dive. Don't believe I had ever seen a penpoint before. Always something new to see at this site.

Divegoose

 

[MarkH]

I did 2 dives up in the Nanoose-area today. At Bonito Crescent, visibility was 8' in the shallows. It steadily cleared as I descended. Below 30' deep it really opened up. By the time I was below 60' deep, visibility must have been 60-80'. At a second dive at the end of Oak Leaf Drive, visibility was pretty much the same, but not quite as good down deep (maybe "only" 50').

 

[Divegoose]

Dove at Madrona Point yesterday morning. Tide was on a high slack so no current. Very soupy down to about 60 feet, but cleared up after that. Although clear the heavy soup layer made it quite dark. The only thing that consistent with visibility so far this year is the inconsistency. Dove at Tyee a few days ago, and it cleared up nicely after about 25 feet.

Divegoose

 

[MarkH]

I did a dive at the North tip of Pender Island today (Walden Rd. access). Visibility in the shallows was maybe 6'. I could just barely see the hazy outline of my fins when I looked back. Below 20' deep, it cleared slightly to about 10'. My max depth was 50'. I did a second dive at the South tip of the Penders at Tilly Point. Visibility there was great, -a bright 30+'.

 

[MarkH]

Visibility was seriously nasty at Willis Point this morning. It was a promising 10' or so near the surface, but then 20' deep it got much worse. I looked back to see if I could see my fins and I could, but not much farther so I'd say visibility was 6-8'. It cleared up slightly below 40' deep, but down on the wall it was almost completely dark. My max depth was just over 120' deep at low tide and I'd say the best the visibility got was 15'.

 

[MarkH]

Visibility was pretty good at Deep Cove/Setchell Point (Saanich Inlet) today. It was 10-15' near the surface. Below 10' deep, it opened up to 30-40' (my max depth=52'). There were some areas where it clouded up a bit, but overall it was a bright and clear dive.

 

[MarkH]

Visibility was 10' at the macrocystis kelp forest near Sooke today.

 

[MarkH]

8' at Ten Mile Point this morning.

 

[MarkH]

Did a couple of great dives off Sooke today. At the East side of Secretary Island, visibility was 40' all the way down to my max depth of 125'. At Pike Point (near Iron Mine Bay) visibility wasn't quite so good near shore (maybe 20-30'), but farther out down the rocky slope it improved to 40'. Because of all the hazy wildfire smoke on the surface it was a bit dark underwater.

 

[Divegoose]

Visibility at the sites in the central island has been great lately. Madrona, Oak Leaf, Dolphin & Tyee all 50 feet plus over the past couple of weeks. Water is starting to cool down, so it should only get better !!

Divegoose