Poor water visibility around Sebastian?

[Plat]

Hey guys, just wondering what normally causes such bad water visibility around the Sebastian area the past couple weeks and is there a time of year or "prime time" to go out when the water is clear? We tried goin out today to do some snorkeling in about 10-15feet of water, the seas were 1-2 feet was a pretty day, but couldn't see a foot in front of your face! And i'm all about safety #1 so getting near those reefs out there is very dangerous when you cant see. We're tryin to find some good spots for lobstering when the mini season opens.

Your thoughts/ideas?

Thanks!

[aquanut]

The inlet dumps murky water from the river on the outgoing tide. Go south.

[Plat]

The inlet dumps murky water from the river on the outgoing tide. Go south.

How far south would you recommend? Thanks

[mad4wrecks]

The visibility tends to improve a bit as you head south towards Vero and get away from the inlet. There is also some good lobster reef withing swimming distance of the beach is this area.

Try Seagrape beach access at: 27.44.688 / 80.23.189

or Turtle Trail beach access: 27.44.033 / 80.22.916

or Tracking Station Park: 27.40.598 / 80.21.776

Tom

[aquanut]

Listen to Tom.

[billinstuart]

I feel part of the visibility problem is caused by the poor quality beach "renourishment" (sic) material that contains organic fines that stay in suspension.

[capt dom]

Sometimes it is from sewage dumps....

Thats when the state guys call us up and ask why we
aren't diving!

[inletsurf]

I feel part of the visibility problem is caused by the poor quality beach "renourishment" (sic) material that contains organic fines that stay in suspension.

I've been diving these waters since '96 and I think its one or more of the following (seasonally driven):

Summer is the clearest inshore, but thermoclines offshore are typically horrible, particularly in late June to August. Vis offshore can be 0 to 10 feet, and waters typically 58-61 degrees but I've seen it go as low as 46 degrees the one year before all the hurricanes (killed a lot of lobster and fish). I believe it was 2003. Algae blooms, cold deep atlantic upwelling type water.

Silt deposits both inshore north of the inlet and offshore seem to get stirred up quickly during a swell. A moderate current from the south seems to help it up quickly, though. The hurricanes really, really stirred up the water, and all the rain runoff deposited large amounts of silt/clay offshore. Took years before a lot of this mud was carried away. Still some significant deposits here and there, the kind where you can stick your hand 6 inches deep in.

"Whale snot" blooms happen off and on, and will quickly erode the visibility offshore. Don't know if its plankton or algae but anyone who dives off sebastian calls it "whale snot".

[SFLOcenEng]

Gulf stream a lot further from shore here than Jupiter and then south. I'm sure that is a factor.

my two cents

[billinstuart]

The silt/fines are a problem all along renourished beaches. I went to a meeting recently where the corps made a presentation on renourishment. The quality of the material wasn't even acknowledged or discussed...they seemed oblivious to this factor.

[FISHEYE]

As soon as the oil slick makes it to the east coast,you wont have to worry about all The silt/fines cause they will be sticking to the oil.

[Treasure_Hunter]

As soon as the oil slick makes it to the east coast,you wont have to worry about all The silt/fines cause they will be sticking to the oil.

I think Miami and the Keys are in a lot more danger, will have to wait and see, besides for me life is too short to start losing sleep worrying about what may happen and hasn't happen yet....

[Plat]

The visibility tends to improve a bit as you head south towards Vero and get away from the inlet. There is also some good lobster reef withing swimming distance of the beach is this area.

Try Seagrape beach access at: 27.44.688 / 80.23.189

or Turtle Trail beach access: 27.44.033 / 80.22.916

or Tracking Station Park: 27.40.598 / 80.21.776

Tom

Thanks for the advice everyone, great information! Tom we ended up going a little north of Turtle Trail beach and the waters were about 5 feet visibility which is the best ive seen in the past three weeks, we were in about 10 feet of water, great holes in the reefs! I'm still waiting for some clearer water tho, the seas need to simmer down