Where was the best visibility you ever encountered?

[MXGratefulDiver]

Rappel, Bonaire ... I logged it at 150+ feet and that might have been conservative. It was basically clear.

Closer to home, we have Crescent Lake out on the Olympic Peninsula. Vis there is 100+ feet on a bad day. Problem is that except for a few curious trout, there really isn't much to look at.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[XJae]

best vis also on the back wall on molikini.
logged as 200+, but in reality more like 250-300.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Clear Lake, Oregon. See the photos below. Visibility around 200 feet (may be a bit more, depending upon lighting). Water temp. is usually about 38 degrees. The second photo shows some of the petrified trees that are visible on the bottom from when the spring water inundated the area due to volcanic activity.

SeaRat

 

[Diver0001]

No doubt this is true for you. I on the other hand have seen only three basic scenarios - but then again I've only ever dove 12 different lands and island groups, there's certainly a lot more of the underwater world to see.

1) Vertical visiblity was between 33% to 100% greater than horizontal visibility
2) No vertical visiblity lots of horizontal vis (below algae bloom)
3) No vis either vertically or horizontally

I'm actually glad this came up. It's very interesting to see how others view this (as it were ).

I think in my local diving I only have to do with a couple of scenarios.

-1- I can still see my buddy who is swimming right beside me....

or

-2- I can't

The seas around here mix well and the vizibility is often a matter of a few metres. Since the viz is generally limited the difference between horizontal and vertical becomes rather a moot point. There may still be a 33% difference but 33% of 3 metres isn't as interesting as 33% of 30 or 40 metres (or more). I'd say that people who worry about the difference between horizontal and vertical viz and measure it like "x% of some enormous number" are dealing with what I would consider a "luxury problem"

After giving this some thought, I realize that I tend to describe viz as a scale of "bad", "good", "great", "incredible" and "unbelievable"

Viz is bad when I measure it by extending my arm and checking if I can still see my hand.

Viz is good when I can look up from my 4.5 metre stop and see the surface.

Viz is great when I can look up from my 6 metre stop and see the surface.

It's incredible if I can see the surface from my 9 metre stop.

"unbelievable" is anything more than that.

R..

 

[H2Andy]

Water temp. is usually about 38 degrees.

*reading comes to a screeching halt*

man, i better be able to drink that water and bottle a few gallons for re-sale
if i'm gonna get in 38 degree water

better cure the common cold, the flu, and that funny rash i have on my back too

 

[DiverBuoy]

I'm actually glad this came up. It's very interesting to see how others view this (as it were ).

I think in my local diving I only have to do with a couple of scenarios.

-1- I can still see my buddy who is swimming right beside me....

or

-2- I can't

The seas around here mix well and the vizibility is often a matter of a few metres. Since the viz is generally limited the difference between horizontal and vertical becomes rather a moot point. There may still be a 33% difference but 33% of 3 metres isn't as interesting as 33% of 30 or 40 metres (or more). I'd say that people who worry about the difference between horizontal and vertical viz and measure it like "x% of some enormous number" are dealing with what I would consider a "luxury problem"

After giving this some thought, I realize that I tend to describe viz as a scale of "bad", "good", "great", "incredible" and "unbelievable"

Viz is bad when I measure it by extending my arm and checking if I can still see my hand.

Viz is good when I can look up from my 4.5 metre stop and see the surface.

Viz is great when I can look up from my 6 metre stop and see the surface.

It's incredible if I can see the surface from my 9 metre stop.

"unbelievable" is anything more than that.

R..

I like your scale! I laughed a bit at the bad vis def. We do need to get you to some carib or micro locations.

 

[Tom Smedley]

The Coon River Pond.....

 

[fmw625]

Cozumel last May. 200' if an inch, Maybe more. Like scuba in air. Wonderful compaired to the 2 to 3 feet I'm used to.

 

[TinoD'Voe]

Molokini back wall for me too. Going from only seeing waters around vancouver to the molokini dive was quite a trip. It felt like I was floating through space, with the drift moving us along, you couldn't tell you were at 20' or 100' until checking your gauge. Vis was easily 200' probably a lot more. I'm back to diving where 30' vis is a good day.

 

[XJae]

Vis was easily 200' probably a lot more. I'm back to diving where 30' vis is a good day.

I hear ya... It's hard for me to judge 100 or more feet. I'm much better at 0-30.