Improving Absolute Distance Estimation in Clear and in Turbid Water

Abstract

Since the errors made in estimating distance underwater are dependent on the degree of water turbidity, improvement through training in one body of water will not transfer to another body of water if there is a large difference in turbidity. In this experiment, 24 Ss were tested, trained, and re-tested in both clear and turbid water, followed by a final test in each water. Accuracy of distance estimation was initially reduced in one body of water after training in the other body of water. But after training in both clear and turbid water, accuracy was improved in both. Thus, the transfer problem can be overcome by training divers under different turbidity conditions so that they learn to tailor their corrections to the prevailing conditions.