Often with both tornadoes and waterspouts, the vortex is seen coming down from the cloud, but not obviously touching the ground or ocean. We begin to see the vortex when its lower air pressure cools the air enough to condense water vapor in the air into tiny water droplets. They are not to be taken lightly. How They Form Golden says the first sign of a waterspout. which can be seen from the air but usually not from a boat, is the formation of a dark spot on the ocean. Smoke flares dropped in these areas show the air is moving in a circle and upward.
Many dark spots die out without progressing any further.
But some begin to take on a spiral pattern of dark and lighter water. Golden says at this second stage someone on a boat at the surface would probably feel the wind shift and maybe increase. Also, if you looked upward, you might see a funnel coming from a cloud overhead or off to one side. People on boats will see the third stage. Even though it might be invisible, a vortex is reaching the ocean surface from the cloud.