In this study four methods of solving the radiative transfer equation applied to shallow ponds have been compared. The methods include a simple version of Beer’s law, a representative two-flux model, a six-flux model and the method of discrete ordinates. Calculations have been performed for a wide range of representative conditions typical to natural water. It was found that scattering was unimportant when the scattering albedo is small (ω ≲ 0.5) and the phase function is highly forward peaked. Consequently, even the simple Beer’s law expression yielded accurate predictions. However, in general only the six-flux method provided a suitable compromise between accuracy and operational convenience for all the conditions considered. The two-flux method was found to be the least accurate primarily due to its inability to account for refraction.