April 10, 2026 / Grade: C
3:00 PM Update — Grade C
Visibility: 10–13 ft
The 4 ft pilings are visible on both sides of the frame but lack sharp surface detail — edges are soft and marine growth is blurred rather than crisp, suggesting moderate particulate in the water column. The 11 ft pilings are discernible in the mid-frame as hazy vertical structures, but structural detail such as texture or biofouling is not resolvable — they appear as soft, indistinct columns fading into the blue-green haze. No convincing third piling tier at 14 ft can be identified; what appears in the far background is ambient blue haze without any distinguishable piling structure, meaning the 14 ft set is effectively absent from this frame. The water has a characteristic blue-green tint rather than deep blue, consistent with moderate visibility and some suspended particulate or plankton load. Several small elongated fish are visible mid-water, confirming reasonable light penetration but not exceptional clarity. A silhouette near the upper-right background could be a distant structural element but cannot be confirmed as a distinct third piling tier. Overall the scene is consistent with moderate visibility in the 10–13 ft range.
The blue-green water color and soft haze throughout the frame suggest a moderate level of suspended particulate matter, likely a combination of fine sediment and low-level phytoplankton bloom typical of this site. Surge from long-period groundswell can resuspend bottom sediment near the pier pilings, which may be contributing to the diffuse scattering visible across all depth tiers. Conditions appear neither severely degraded nor particularly clear, pointing to typical mid-range coastal visibility rather than a runoff or bloom event.
Conditions are marginal for diving — visibility is workable but unremarkable at roughly 10–13 ft, and the long-period swell will produce surge under the pier that could make navigation uncomfortable. If conditions are expected to improve with an incoming tide or after swell energy settles, an early morning session on a calmer day would likely offer significantly better visibility.
• Wind: 9.5 mph
• Cloud Cover: 20%
• Water Temp: 68.4°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 1.3 ft @ 18.0 sec from NW (289°) — favorable
• Tide: Unknown → next H at 05:04 (3.915 ft)
• Community Report: No report
3:00 PM Update — Grade C
Visibility: 10–13 ft
The 4 ft pilings on the right side of the frame are visible with moderate surface detail — algae growth and structural texture are discernible, though not razor sharp. The 11 ft pilings are present but show noticeable haze, with structure still broadly identifiable though softened by particulate scatter. I can identify only TWO distinct piling tiers with confidence; what appears in the mid-to-far background does not resolve as a clearly distinct third piling set — any distant forms are vague, diffuse shapes blending into the blue-green haze rather than a structurally distinct 14 ft tier. Per the counting rule, the absence of a confirmed third tier caps this assessment at C or lower. The water has a characteristic blue-green tint with suspended particulates contributing to a milky mid-column appearance, consistent with moderate visibility in the 10–13 ft range.
The blue-green water color with scattered particulate haze suggests a mix of fine suspended sediment and possible low-level plankton bloom, typical of this stretch of coast during periods of mild ocean mixing. The long-period swell present can generate subtle surge beneath the pier, which may be resuspending fine bottom sediment and contributing to the mid-column turbidity visible in the image. Overall conditions appear fairly typical for moderate-visibility coastal water rather than an acute event like a storm stir.
Conditions are marginal for recreational diving — visibility is workable for experienced divers familiar with the site but limiting for photography or navigation. If a tidal shift or wind decrease occurs later in the day, clarity may improve slightly, though significant improvement is unlikely without a multiday settling period.
• Wind: 10.4 mph
• Cloud Cover: 0%
• Water Temp: 68.4°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 1.3 ft @ 18.0 sec from NW (289°) — favorable
• Tide: Unknown → next H at 03:26 (3.776 ft)
• Community Report: No report
12:00 PM Update — Grade C
Visibility: 10–13 ft
The 4 ft pilings on the left side are visible but show only moderate surface detail — their edges are somewhat soft and marine growth texture is partially discernible rather than sharp. The 11 ft pilings on the right are identifiable as large structural forms with some surface texture visible, but they are noticeably hazy and lack crisp definition. Searching carefully for a third distinct piling set beyond the 11 ft pilings, I cannot confidently identify the 14 ft pilings as a separate, clearly distinguishable tier — there is no convincing third set visible at greater distance. The water has a characteristic teal-green hue rather than deep blue, indicating moderate particulate or biological suspension in the water column. Several small elongated fish (likely topsmelt or silversides) are visible in mid-water, which is consistent with typical pier conditions. Overall clarity is moderate at best, with visibility fading into a greenish haze before reaching the far piling distance.
The greenish-teal water color suggests moderate turbidity, likely driven by a combination of suspended particulates and possible phytoplankton presence typical of nearshore La Jolla conditions. The long-period northwest swell may be generating some bottom surge at pier depth, which can resuspend fine sediments and reduce horizontal visibility. Conditions appear stable but not exceptional — this is characteristic of average late-day or mid-tide nearshore visibility rather than a stirred-up post-storm scenario.
Conditions are marginal for diving — acceptable for experienced divers comfortable with 10–13 ft visibility but not ideal for photography or less confident divers. The falling tide trend toward tonight's low may gradually improve clarity over the next several hours, so later this afternoon or early evening could offer a modestly better window.
• Wind: 9.8 mph
• Cloud Cover: 11%
• Water Temp: 68.2°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 1.6 ft @ 15.0 sec from NW (294°) — favorable
• Tide: Falling → next L at 23:33 (2.752 ft)
• Community Report: No report
12:00 PM Update — Grade C
Visibility: 10–13 ft
The 4 ft pilings on the right side of the frame are visible with some surface texture discernible, though they appear slightly soft rather than razor-sharp, suggesting mild near-field haze. The 11 ft pilings are identifiable as structural forms in the mid-frame but carry noticeable haze — their surface detail is reduced and edges are not crisp. The 14 ft piling set cannot be confidently identified as a distinct third tier; what appears in the far background could be a shadow or continuation of the 11 ft set rather than a clearly separate piling group. The water has a characteristic blue-green teal tint with moderate particulate scatter visible throughout the water column, consistent with suspended material. Needle-like fish (likely California Needlefish or similar elongated species) are visible in mid-water, which are commonly observed in moderate visibility conditions. Overall the scene reads as moderate visibility with no clearly resolvable third piling tier, firmly placing this in Grade C territory.
The blue-green teal coloration and uniform mid-column haze suggest a mix of fine particulate suspension and possibly mild phytoplankton or biological material in the water column. Visibility appears consistent throughout the frame rather than showing a sharp clarity gradient, which often indicates stirred sediment or organic turbidity rather than a localized surface disturbance. The falling tide noted in sensor data may gradually improve conditions over the next several hours as tidal flushing clears some suspended material.
Conditions are marginal for recreational diving at roughly 10–13 ft visibility — acceptable for experienced divers but not ideal for photography or less experienced divers. If the falling tide continues to flush the system toward the late-night low, a slight improvement is possible by early morning, though significant change is not guaranteed.
• Wind: 9.8 mph
• Cloud Cover: 11%
• Water Temp: 68.2°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 1.6 ft @ 15.0 sec from NW (294°) — favorable
• Tide: Falling → next L at 23:33 (2.752 ft)
• Community Report: No report
12:00 PM Update — Grade B
Visibility: 15–22 ft
The 4 ft pilings are clearly visible on both sides of the frame with reasonable surface detail, including biological growth and structural texture visible on the right-side piling, indicating good near-field clarity. The 11 ft pilings are identifiable as a distinct mid-range tier, appearing with moderate haze but retaining enough structure to be clearly counted as a separate set. The 14 ft pilings appear to be present as a third distinct tier in the background — visible as hazy columnar shapes with discernible structure beyond the 11 ft set, though not crisp. The water is a rich blue-green with good light penetration from the surface, suggesting moderate-to-good conditions. A large fish (likely a barracuda or similar predatory species) is visible in the mid-water column, and a diffuse school of smaller fish is scattered throughout, indicating active marine life and reasonable water column clarity.
The deep blue-green water tone and good light penetration suggest relatively low particulate turbidity at this time, consistent with calm sea surface conditions. The presence of fish activity and visible sunlight rays reaching the seafloor suggests minimal plankton bloom or sediment suspension obscuring the water column. Rising tide conditions may be introducing slightly mixed water, but overall conditions appear stable and favorable.
Conditions are currently good for diving, with visibility in the 15–22 ft range and active marine life present. Visibility may decrease slightly as the tide continues to rise toward its peak in the late afternoon, so diving sooner rather than later today is advisable.
• Wind: 6.1 mph
• Cloud Cover: 1%
• Water Temp: 67.1°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 1.3 ft @ 18.0 sec from NW (281°) — favorable
• Tide: Rising → next H at 19:24 (3.243 ft)
• Community Report: No report
Visibility is currently around 15–20 ft, based on the latest Scripps Pier camera image.
The 4 ft pilings on the right side of the frame are clearly visible with good surface detail, showing algae and marine growth texture on their surfaces — sharp and well-defined. The 11 ft pilings in the mid-range are also visible with discernible structural detail, though some haze is beginning to accumulate around them. A third piling set is detectable further back in the frame, consistent with the 14 ft tier — visible as a hazy but structured presence rather than merely a shadow, with vertical form still distinguishable against the blue-lit water column. The water has a clean blue-teal tone with good light penetration from the surface, suggesting reasonably clear conditions without significant particulate or algal turbidity. Sandy bottom texture is visible beneath the pilings, adding to the sense of moderate-to-good visibility. Overall, three distinct piling tiers can be identified, placing this solidly in Grade B territory, though the haziness of the far tier keeps it in the lower-B range.
The water exhibits a clean blue-teal color suggesting relatively low particulate and biological turbidity at the time of capture. Light rays are penetrating well from the surface, indicating calm surface conditions consistent with light wind, though some mid-water haze suggests minor suspended sediment or light plankton presence. The modest surge from long-period swell may be gently stirring bottom sediment, contributing to the subtle mid-water haze visible around the deeper piling tiers.
Current conditions are reasonable for diving, offering moderate-to-good visibility suitable for recreational and photographic dives under the pier. The rising tide may gradually reduce visibility over the next few hours, so diving sooner rather than later in the tide cycle would be advisable.
Current Conditions
• Wind: 3.3 mph
• Cloud Cover: 1%
• Water Temp: 66.7°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 1.3 ft @ 18.0 sec from NW (282°) — favorable
• Tide: Rising → next H at 19:24 (3.243 ft)
• Community Report: No report
Dive Grade: B
🎥 Live Camera: https://coollab.ucsd.edu/pierviz/
