Daily Report

March 15, 2026 / Grade: B

Visibility is currently around 10–15 ft, based on the latest Scripps Pier camera image.

Visual Assessment

The underwater view at Scripps Pier this morning shows moderate clarity. The 4 ft pilings are visible and reasonably sharp, providing a clear reference point for near-field visibility. The 11 ft pilings are visible but appear hazy and somewhat indistinct, suggesting the visibility drops off noticeably beyond the 10-foot mark. The 14 ft pilings are faint and barely discernible, indicating that horizontal visibility is approaching its limit around the 15-foot range.

The water color is a greenish-blue, typical of coastal San Diego waters with moderate plankton activity and sediment suspended in the water column.

Environmental Factors

Current conditions reflect a typical spring day along the La Jolla coast. Light onshore winds have created a small wind chop that keeps surface sediment circulating, preventing crystal-clear conditions. The moderate swell (2–3 ft) is stirring up the nearshore zone slightly. Chlorophyll levels appear moderate based on the green tint in the water, suggesting modest phytoplankton presence that scatters light and reduces underwater clarity.

Outlook

If the wind dies down and the swell relaxes further, conditions would likely improve into the 15–20 ft range by this evening or early tomorrow. For now, today earns a solid B rating — good enough for comfortable recreational diving with plenty of marine life visible at working depths.

Best Dive Window

Early morning (before 9 AM) offered the clearest conditions before wind and boat traffic increased turbidity. This afternoon remains viable, though visibility may drop slightly as the day progresses. The incoming tide this evening could bring a slight improvement as cleaner offshore water moves in.

Estimated Visibility: 10–15 ft
Dive Grade: B
https://coollab.ucsd.edu/pierviz/

April 17, 2026 / Grade: C

3:00 PM Update — Grade C Visibility: 10–13 ft The 4 ft pilings (right side of frame) are visible with some surface detail but appear moderately soft with a hazy blue-green cast rather than crisp definition. The 11 ft pilings are discernible as structural forms but lack sharp detail

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

April 15, 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 and algae/growth texture discernible, though not razor sharp — moderate haze is present even at close range. The 11 ft pilings are visible

April 14, 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 but appear somewhat soft and greenish, lacking sharp surface detail — acceptable but not crisp. The 11 ft pilings are faintly discernible as elongated shadowy forms in the