Why is the Atlantic Ocean so dirty looking while...?

Question

the waters in the Caribbean are so blue and crystal clear?

For instance, I'll go to the beach in Rehobeth (DE) or to the Outer Banks (NC) and the water there is so icky looking. However, the Caribbean seems like it is "connected" to the Atlantic Ocean (so you'd assume the icky waters would filter into the Caribbean) yet the waters there are so beautiful. What makes the difference here?

Answer 1

There are several reasons.

The main reason is said to be that the waters of the Carribean do not contain as much phytoplankton and other microscopic life, because these waters are low in nutrient.

The water also seems bluer, because of the contrast with the whiter sands.

Answer 2

Well the areas in the atlantic are highly polluted, and since you were on the beach the waves stir up the sand. Once you get to areas where the sand is not stired up it is fairly deep.

In the caribean there is a lot less polution and the waves do not stir up the sand as much.

The water though they are connected have different properties and they do mix, but it is not that obvious.