Sometimes reading the water is simpler than others. Take this for instance. A long shallow bar stretching out into the ocean is often marked by a silty soup of green as the sand gets stirred up over the bar. I was surprised by how sharp the line would be drawn in the currents. Often a cross current caused by the outflow of a nearby river or a rip current would cause a similar effect. Usually though I found shallow water of more concern. Knowing I was over a shallow area even on a calm day had me more aware of those occasional bigger waves that would seemingly just lift out of nowhere. I’d also know to keep an eye below me around the kayak to see just how shallow the water actually was. It was usually in these areas that coral or rock would rises out of nowhere. Some obstacles would sit hidden just below the surface, while others were occasionally exposed in the trough of a wave. Corral and rocks full barnicles could do real damage to the boat. You certainly did not want to get dragged across them or dropped on them when a wave rolled past. Often when you saw the ocean turn to cream soup it was just wiser to stay out in the clear blue sea.

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