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Value of sounding This is just what is sounds like, the numeric value of a sounding, but it has a special meaning in that it is an official ENC chart attribute (VALSOU). It applies not just to regular soundings, but mainly to the depth of the water (relative to zero tide) on top of various isolated hazards such as rocks and wrecks. Positive values are below the tide zero level, minus values are above, which means they are drying heights. A rock with VALSOU of 2.4m will be 2.4m below the surface when the tide is zero, or 5.4m below the surface when the tide is 3.0m. Likewise a rock with VALSOU of -1.3m will be 1.3 m above the water when the tide is zero, but it will be 0.7m under the surface when the tide is 2.0m.

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