They were when they fell off and you held them up to look at them.
Not quite the same, but.....
My friend wanted to set out a course there.
One of the lads acquired some buoys.
As I am an (ex) golfer, I I have (had) a laser rangefinder. The intention was for me to measure 200m from buoy to buoy.
The rangefinder doesn't take a dunking too kindly.