How to read the conditions forecast
Every DiveSight site carries a conditions forecast built from ocean and weather models. Here is how to read the Live tab, the weekly forecast, visibility tiers, and monthly averages.
- 1
Start with the Live tab
The Live tab shows the conditions at the site right now, including water and air temperature, wind, swell, and current tide state. Use it as your first check before you leave, and read it alongside the local dive shop or ranger report rather than in place of it.
- 2
Scan the weekly forecast
The weekly forecast lays out the days ahead so you can pick the best window for your dive. Look for the calmest wind and swell and the tide state that suits the site, and treat days further out as a guide that firms up as they get closer.
- 3
Read the visibility tiers
Visibility is shown as a tier rather than a single exact number, because underwater clarity depends on many factors. Higher tiers mean clearer water and better odds of a good day, while lower tiers warn you that plankton, runoff, or swell may cloud the water.
- 4
Compare the monthly averages
The monthly averages tab shows what a typical month looks like at the site, drawn from long-run climatology. Use it to plan a trip weeks or months out, to learn the site's best season, and to set your expectations before the short-range forecast is even available.