Same here. On top of what Intruder posted, the visual blurring tricked me like this, more than a couple of years ago, no GPS et al:
Navigational preparation was outbound tracking from PBI, something of 150degs to ZBV (Bimini) with distance, prevailing winds and time checks. The VORs had DME already. After the time approached, the DME read back to 0, the needle turned opposite, i could not see anything but the horizon and blue waters. I turned and went over the station again, to make sure, still no island visible.....
You might know that warm feeling creeping up the back side of a very new pilot, indicating "i don't know what the frack is going on ....!".
As i was at 6500ft, i had the illuminating idea to descend, to go and check a little closer, before returning in panic. At around 2500ft the island gently appeared, the sunlight and water reflections had simply blended it out of our eyes perception!
Be careful out there!