Wondering if a circular polarizing filter would have improved the shot?

Not sure it would. Polarisers are all about being at the right angles to the water or sun for them to be effective. The sky looks washed out and hazy so I doubt the polariser would have changed that and I don't think from that angle it would have worked. The effect may have darkened the patch of water by taking away the refection, but difficutl to know for sure. Picture could have been made a better (for me) by changing your angle, moving position, maybe zooming in or getting lower down. My eye effectively ignores the left half of your frame as there is nothing to catch my interest, but I am wondering where all that spray is going and thinking that could be interesting in some way. Actually I haven't used my polariser much since I went digital, doesn't seem to have the same level of effect as on slide film years ago except for reflections. Maybe just the shots I have tried it on.

The spray gave me difficulty regardless where I stood, unless I included the whole falls or omitted the spray completely.




I appreciate your response.

A polarizer will dramatically improve the blue of any sky in your photos. It solves a lot of problems with a flat, cloudless sky. It won't do anything for the mist in your shots. A polarizer is also indispensable in applications what glare exits off a body of water. You have total control for that perfect shot.

Thank you.
I don't as yet own a polarizer, but since we will be snorkeling over live reefs while cruising the Caribbean next month, sounds it may be indeed indispensable.