Pro tip: The 30-foot rule for silt is a myth that gets people hurt

I keep hearing guys say you can just 'power through' a silt cloud if you're above 30 feet. That's how a buddy in the Gulf lost his tender line last year and had to make an emergency ascent. The real problem is zero visibility messes with your buoyancy and spatial sense, not just the depth. Has anyone else had a close call because they trusted that old saying?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_holly18d agoMost Upvoted

Watched a guy in Florida practically hug the anchor line after stirring up the bottom at 40 feet. That rule is dangerous because you can't tell up from down in that soup.

caleb26218d ago

That rule's saved my butt in low vis before though.

jenkins.tyler18d ago

My buddy in the Keys had the same thing happen at 35 feet... got totally turned around. @the_holly is right, it's just soup down there.