April 16, 2026 / Grade: C
3:00 PM Update — Grade C
Visibility: 10–13 ft
The 4 ft pilings on the right side of the frame are visible with some surface detail, including encrusting organisms and general structure, though they appear somewhat softened rather than razor-sharp. The 11 ft pilings are discernible as hazy, moderately defined shapes in the mid-frame, lacking crisp structural detail but still identifiable as a distinct set. The 14 ft pilings cannot be confidently identified as a third distinct tier beyond the 11 ft set — no clearly separate third piling set is visible with distinguishable structure in the background. Water color is a murky blue-green teal, consistent with moderate particulate or biological turbidity. Overall clarity is reduced with a notable haze throughout the water column, limiting depth of field significantly.
The greenish-teal hue and diffuse haze in the water column suggest moderate turbidity likely driven by biological particulates, suspended sediment, or mild plankton bloom conditions. Short-period swell conditions can stir up near-bottom sediment around the pier pilings, contributing to reduced clarity. The scattered small fish visible in the mid-frame are consistent with typical pier column aggregations under moderate visibility conditions.
Conditions are marginal for recreational diving, with visibility sufficient for basic orientation but not ideal for photography or detailed observation. Visibility may improve slightly around the low tide window in the early morning hours when tidal flushing can reduce particulate load near the pier.
• Wind: 12.7 mph
• Cloud Cover: 0%
• Water Temp: 67.5°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 1.6 ft @ 6.0 sec from NW (280°) — favorable
• Tide: Unknown → next L at 03:04 (-0.384 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 but show only moderate surface detail, appearing somewhat soft rather than crisp — consistent with reduced clarity starting close to the camera. The 11 ft pilings are discernible as a mid-range structural element on the right side, but they carry noticeable haze and lack sharp definition. The 14 ft pilings cannot be confidently identified as a third distinct tier — only two piling sets can be reliably located, meaning the 14 ft set is absent or merged into background haze. The water is a greenish-teal color rather than deep blue, indicating suspended particulate matter or biological turbidity. A loose school of small fish is visible mid-frame, which is typical of pier environments but does not aid visibility assessment. Overall clarity is moderate-to-poor, consistent with a Grade C.
The greenish tint to the water strongly suggests elevated phytoplankton or suspended sediment, which is scattering light and reducing horizontal visibility. Rising tide conditions may be drawing in nearshore water with higher turbidity loads, contributing to the hazy mid-water column appearance. The relatively short-period swell noted in conditions is consistent with some bottom disturbance and mixing that can keep particulates in suspension.
Conditions are marginal for diving — visibility is adequate for casual pier dives but not ideal for photography or detailed observation. A better window may occur later if the tide stabilizes or begins to ebb, which sometimes flushes clearer offshore water under the pier.
• Wind: 10.4 mph
• Cloud Cover: 100%
• Water Temp: 67.6°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 2.0 ft @ 7.0 sec from NW (288°) — favorable
• Tide: Rising → next H at 21:07 (5.747 ft)
• Community Report: No report
Visibility is currently around 10–13 ft, based on the latest Scripps Pier camera image.
The 4 ft pilings on the right side of the frame are visible but show only moderate surface detail — their edges are somewhat soft and the texture is not crisp, suggesting light haze even at close range. The 11 ft pilings appear as a mid-distance cluster of elongated shapes in the center-right of the frame; they are identifiable as pilings but lack sharp structural definition, appearing as hazy silhouettes rather than clearly resolved structures. The 14 ft piling set cannot be independently confirmed as a third distinct tier beyond the 11 ft pilings — what is visible in the background appears to be a loose scatter of fish and general blue haze, with no clearly resolved third set of pilings distinguishable from the background. Water color is a mid-toned blue with noticeable turbidity throughout the water column, reducing contrast at all distances. Overall, only two piling tiers can be confidently identified, placing this firmly in Grade C territory per the counting rule.
The water exhibits a diffuse, milky blue turbidity consistent with suspended particulate matter — likely a mix of fine sediment and biological material such as phytoplankton. The rising tide is a probable contributor, as tidal flow tends to stir and redistribute suspended particles near the pier structure. Visibility is limited but not severely so, with reasonable light penetration suggesting conditions are moderate rather than poor.
Conditions are marginal for diving — 10–13 ft visibility is workable for experienced divers but not ideal for photography or species observation. Conditions may improve later in the day as the tide peaks and current slows, so checking again post-high-tide could reveal a cleaner window.
Current Conditions
• Wind: 3.4 mph
• Cloud Cover: 100%
• Water Temp: 67.5°F
• Chlorophyll: 0.37 mg/m³ (GREEN)
• Swell: 2.0 ft @ 7.0 sec from NW (285°) — favorable
• Tide: Rising → next H at 21:07 (5.747 ft)
• Community Report: No report
Dive Grade: C
🎥 Live Camera: https://coollab.ucsd.edu/pierviz/
