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Submarius – Global water clarity for divers

Submarius – Global water clarity for divers

by celloer·Jun 20, 2026·14 points·6 comments

AI Analysis

●●SolidNiche GemBig Brain

State-augmented ensemble kalman filter for water clarity when no API exists.

Strengths
  • Genuinely novel problem - no existing water clarity API to build on
  • Physics-grounded model combining satellite Kd490, river discharge, and wave mixing
  • Safety features permanently free with no auth wall or paywall
Weaknesses
  • Niche audience limits broader developer appeal beyond water sports enthusiasts
  • Author explicitly soliciting feedback suggests the approach may have undiscovered flaws
Category
Target Audience

Divers, spearfishers, boaters, and recreational fishermen

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Post Description

Submarius started as just a dashboard for diving conditions, but I quickly realized that there is simply no API for water clarity, nor even a simple way to calculate it. Divers call it viz, and it is one of the most consequential factors for a diving experience. So I dove the viz rabbit-hole. I landed on a state-augmented ensemble kalman filter. More details on the /clarity page. My question for the HN audience is if anyone knows of a better way of doing this? There is a ton of satellite data to train on, but a lot of it is messy (clouds read as turbid water, shallow reefs reflect abnormally causing bad readings, etc). Appreciate any feedback on the subject. Enjoy the read!

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