Underwater, how does the bending of light rays affect the appearance of objects?

When light rays travel through different mediums, such as air and water, they bend or refract. This refraction causes objects underwater to appear displaced from their actual position. The bending of light makes objects seem closer to the surface than they really are.

For example, when you look at a fish swimming underwater, the light rays coming off the fish pass from water to air and bend as they do so; this effect alters your perception of the fish's location. Consequently, if you were to reach out to grab the fish, you might find that your hand misses because the fish is actually at a different depth than it appears.

This phenomenon of light refraction is a common experience for divers and snorkelers, where the underwater environment visually alters distances and positions, contributing to the unique visual experience of being submerged.