Eli5: why do some beaches/oceans have clear water and some do not?

Question

I grew up going to the beaches in Jersey/Delaware/S Carolina/Galveston and had only ever known the murky waters that smelled of fish from blocks away. When I got older, I went to Miami, Key West, Destin, and Hawaii and have experienced true crystal clear waters with no smell. They’re all in different areas, some clear/murky waters share the same ocean/gulf. Why does the water present differently?

In: 12

Answer 1

Tropical waters are nutrient poor. Meaning fewer microbes and clear waters. Temperate waters are more productive. More microbes, more stuff to make the water greener/browner