UK Viz Report ?

[Snoek]

Hi guys
I'm just getting back into spearfishing after a few years out. I live about 3 hrs from the nearest (good) spearing spots which are Pembrokeshire and Gower. I'm just wondering if there are any sites that give viz reports and diving conditions at any location before setting off on a wasted trip and finding conditions only to be rubbish?
Thanks!

 

[Pinniped72]

You can get a rough idea by gathering different information about the geography, weather and tides. For instance, are there estuaries or rivers entering the sea nearby or mud flats, how windy has it been recently, has it rained, what direction has the wind been blowing and how strong was it. How strong are the tides. What's the sea floor like and how steep are the beeches. Rivers, estuaries, rain, strong wave action and strong tides can all reduce visibility. It's not an exact science but it's pretty reliable and also improves your knowledge of the area your diving, always a good thing The reasons above explain why the Solent has such dire visibility for instance.

 

[Snoek]

You can get a rough idea by gathering different information about the geography, weather and tides. For instance, are there estuaries or rivers entering the sea nearby or mud flats, how windy has it been recently, has it rained, what direction has the wind been blowing and how strong was it. How strong are the tides. What's the sea floor like and how steep are the beeches. Rivers, estuaries, rain, strong wave action and strong tides can all reduce visibility. It's not an exact science but it's pretty reliable and also improves your knowledge of the area your diving, always a good thing The reasons above explain why the Solent has such dire visibility for instance.

Hey Pinniped72.
Thanks for the reply! This is gold! With regards to wind direction, if say, I was diving on the west coast and the wind direction have predominantly been from the East (land direction), would this be more favourable than a Westerly wind?
Thanks for your help!!

 

[Pinniped72]

No problem and yes to the wind direction, ideally in most places with variable visibility your looking for an offshore wind, so a wind blowing from the land. On shore wind, so wind from the sea, means more waves, more water movement and more disruption to the sea floor. If you've got mud flats, shallow sandy beaches and other easily disrupted substrates, the wind plays a more and more important part.

 

[Snoek]

No problem and yes to the wind direction, ideally in most places with variable visibility your looking for an offshore wind, so a wind blowing from the land. On shore wind, so wind from the sea, means more waves, more water movement and more disruption to the sea floor. If you've got mud flats, shallow sandy beaches and other easily disrupted substrates, the wind plays a more and more important part.

This is great help!
Thank you so much!!