Originally Posted by Monopole
The conditions specified for circling are on the chart. In the case of Johnny_56 example it is x.x vis and 1600'. Just because you are allowed to decend to the OCA in day, does not mean you are allowed to do so and circle in conditions less then the circling minima. The circling minima is 1600' and the cloud base is 1350' in this example.
(My bolding.) That's dead wrong. The rules actually imply that you may
only descend below the MDA by day if the cloud base forces you to do so.
Originally Posted by Jepp Terminal 3.13.3
Note 2. The pilot should maintain the maximum practical obstacle clearance...
"The maximum practical obstacle clearance." That means that if the cloud base allows you to fly at the MDA then you should maintain the MDA. The rule allows you to descend by day visually if the cloud base requires it, it does not allow you to descend below the MDA just because you feel like it. Therefore if you are using this clause the cloud base must be below the MDA which means that the conditions are, by your reading, less than the circling minima, yet you are not conducting a missed approach, you are circling with visual reference to obstacles and maintaining at least the min obstacle clearance.