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About twice a year I get the urge to get an underwater camera. I always convince myself that in Oklahoma waters they would be of no use so I don't get one. Does anyone have and use one? If so how well can you see with it? I'm thinking it may be a little clearer in the deeper water but I'm probably wrong! Thoughts or opinions anyone? :dono
I have had the same thoughts boat49! I'll be watching to see if someone chimes in.
OK, guys this is finally something that I am qualified to answer somewhat. lol
I am assuming you are talking about something like a Nikonus or similar underwater still camera. STAY AWAY from water proof cases. Most to do not work very well. Or are limited to a very shallow depth. May 5 to 10 feet.
I use to run Northeast Oklahoma Underwater Recover. I have been on the bottom of more Oklahoma lakes than I care to admit sometimes. LOL Most of the water in Oklahoma is what we would call BLACK WATER. What that means is you can not see your hand in front of your face most of the time. Literally. In as little as 3 feet in some Oklahoma lakes it can get that dark.
There are exceptions to this though:
Lake Tenkiller - I have seen visibility as high as probably 30 to 40 feet horizontally. This is probably one of the best lakes in Oklahoma as far as vis goes. I have been a 107 feet deep in this lake.
Grand Lake - Depending on where you are at one Grand you can get visiblity very similar to Tenkiller. Grand is also a very deep lake if I remember correctly.
Ft. Gibson - Fort Gibson is an odd one. At times you may get as much as a Murky 7 to 10 feet of cloudy visibility. It is best the farther from the river that you get.
Skiatook - Skiatook is another odd one. I have seen vis as high as 30 feet and as low as 5 feet near the Highway 20 bridge. I have dove in this lake mainly recreationally. I have also helped train divers in this lake. Most of the time you will have about 10 to 15 feet of visibility.
Broken Bow - I have never dove this lake but I have been told it is awesome as far as visibility goes. I have heard it compared to Beaver and Table Rock. Like I said I have never been in this lake.
Pretty Water - Pretty Water is a city lake that the city of Sapalupa uses as a trout lake. It has fantastic vis. Its sister lake Sahoma on the other hand, is almost as bad as it can get. lol
Ft. Supply - Zero Viz
ALL OKC Lakes or the surrounding lakes - Are no viz lakes.
Eufaula - leave it at home - No vis
Oolahah - see above
Keystone - Worse than Eufaula
There are others but I can not think of them at the moment. These are mostly the ones that I know get fished a lot that I can remember what it was like under them.
Bobo
Well, since I fish Thunderbird 90% of the time, I guess that means more than likely a waste of money. I appreciate the info Bobo! Way more info than I was expecting but all very interesting and helpful. Thanks again. b49
Glad I could help buddy. I kept thinking about getting one when I was diving all of the time, but I will probably never make to an ocean dive so I did not see the use myself.
Bobo
I been thinking the same, but pass all the time as well
This means I will refocus my need for a new toy to the Motorguide Xi5! :cheers2
I used mine a lot more before DSI. Used it to ID structural objects that were not defined on sonar. Clear water is really nice for picture quality, but infared works even in deep water or cloudy water...just limited range.
I had one for about 4 years till it quit on me. On Gibson it was useless most of the time unless I was fishing off of dock,,
on tenkiller it worked great. Especially on the south end visibility was usually 5-10 ft depending on time of the year
Great report Bobo.:HandsClapping
I have one and Bobo is dead on. Even with infrared, the infrared will light up the particles in murky water and all I see is white snow until you get to about 6" or less. On the clear water lakes it works good.
I would recommend Tenkiller for clearness. But as far as a camera, we got one of those disposable underwater cameras at the gift shop when we went to Jamaica. It took great pictures underwater -- even better when it was sunny above water.