diff --git a/PixelAttributes.cpp b/PixelAttributes.cpp
index 550140a..a05d219 100644
--- a/PixelAttributes.cpp
+++ b/PixelAttributes.cpp
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ void PixelAttributes::renderShading(bool drawAlpha)
 	m_firstUnshadedY = y - yCoord2Line(0);
 }
 
-void PixelAttribute::mixUnder(const PixelAttribute &p)
+void PixelAttribute::mixUnder(const PixelAttribute &p, bool darkenHighAlpha)
 {
 	if (!is_valid() || a == 0) {
 		if (!is_valid() || p.a != 0) {
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ void PixelAttribute::mixUnder(const PixelAttribute &p)
 		if (p.a != 1)
 			t = (t + p.t) / 2;
 		h = p.h;
-		if (prev_alpha >= 254 && p.alpha() < 255) {
+		if (prev_alpha >= 254 && p.alpha() < 255 && darkenHighAlpha) {
 			// Darken
 			// Parameters make deep water look good :-)
 			r = r * 0.95;
diff --git a/PixelAttributes.h b/PixelAttributes.h
index f44f11e..e60e6d0 100644
--- a/PixelAttributes.h
+++ b/PixelAttributes.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ struct PixelAttribute {
 
 	inline bool is_valid() const { return !isnan(h); }
 	PixelAttribute &operator=(const PixelAttribute &p);
-	void mixUnder(const PixelAttribute &p);
+	void mixUnder(const PixelAttribute &p, bool darkenHighAlpha);
 };
 
 class PixelAttributes
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index f483663..b08e106 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -176,8 +176,22 @@ drawplayers:
 draworigin:
     Draw origin indicator, `--draworigin`
 
-drawalpha:
-    Allow blocks to be drawn with transparency, `--drawalpha`
+drawalpha[=darken|nodarken]:
+    Allow blocks to be drawn with transparency, `--drawalpha=darken`
+
+    Even with drawalpha, transparency decreases with depth. After a certain
+    number of transparent blocks (e.g. water depth), the color will become opaque,
+    and the underlying colors will no longer shine through. The height differences
+    *will* still be visible though.
+
+    With 'darken', after the color becomes opaque, it will gradually be darkened
+    to visually simulate the bigger thickness of transparent blocks. The downside
+    is that eventually, the color becomes black.
+
+    Darken mode makes deeper, but not too deep water look much better. Very deep water
+    will become black though.
+
+    With nodarken (default), after it becomes opaque, the color will not be darkened.
 
 drawair:
     Draw air blocks. `--drawair`
diff --git a/TileGenerator.cpp b/TileGenerator.cpp
index 7940789..1b4a548 100644
--- a/TileGenerator.cpp
+++ b/TileGenerator.cpp
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ TileGenerator::TileGenerator():
 	m_drawPlayers(false),
 	m_drawScale(false),
 	m_drawAlpha(false),
+	m_darkenHighAlpha(false),
 	m_drawAir(false),
 	m_shading(true),
 	m_border(0),
@@ -267,9 +268,10 @@ void TileGenerator::setDrawScale(bool drawScale)
 	}
 }
 
-void TileGenerator::setDrawAlpha(bool drawAlpha)
+void TileGenerator::setDrawAlpha(bool drawAlpha, bool darkenHighAlpha)
 {
     m_drawAlpha = drawAlpha;
+    m_darkenHighAlpha = darkenHighAlpha;
 }
 
 void TileGenerator::setDrawAir(bool drawAir)
@@ -1235,7 +1237,7 @@ inline void TileGenerator::renderMapBlock(const ustring &mapBlock, const BlockPo
 					rowIsEmpty = false;
 					#define nodeColor (*m_nodeIDColor[content])
 					//const ColorEntry &nodeColor = *m_nodeIDColor[content];
-					pixel.mixUnder(PixelAttribute(nodeColor, pos.y * 16 + y));
+					pixel.mixUnder(PixelAttribute(nodeColor, pos.y * 16 + y), m_darkenHighAlpha);
 					if ((m_drawAlpha && nodeColor.a == 0xff) || (!m_drawAlpha && nodeColor.a != 0)) {
 						m_readedPixels[z] |= (1 << x);
 						break;
diff --git a/TileGenerator.h b/TileGenerator.h
index f203bda..d78fc0a 100644
--- a/TileGenerator.h
+++ b/TileGenerator.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public:
 	void setDrawOrigin(bool drawOrigin);
 	void setDrawPlayers(bool drawPlayers);
 	void setDrawScale(bool drawScale);
-	void setDrawAlpha(bool drawAlpha);
+	void setDrawAlpha(bool drawAlpha, bool darkenHighAlpha = false);
 	void setDrawAir(bool drawAir);
 	void drawObject(const DrawObject &object) { m_drawObjects.push_back(object); }
 	void setShading(bool shading);
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ private:
 	bool m_drawPlayers;
 	bool m_drawScale;
 	bool m_drawAlpha;
+	bool m_darkenHighAlpha;
 	bool m_drawAir;
 	bool m_shading;
 	int m_border;
diff --git a/mapper.cpp b/mapper.cpp
index dbdc59b..8f21568 100644
--- a/mapper.cpp
+++ b/mapper.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ void usage()
 			"  --drawscale\n"
 			"  --drawplayers\n"
 			"  --draworigin\n"
-			"  --drawalpha\n"
+			"  --drawalpha[=[no]darken]\n"
 			"  --drawair\n"
 			"  --draw[map]point \"<x>,<y> color\"\n"
 			"  --draw[map]line \"<geometry> color\"\n"
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		{"draworigin", no_argument, 0, 'R'},
 		{"drawplayers", no_argument, 0, 'P'},
 		{"drawscale", no_argument, 0, 'S'},
-		{"drawalpha", no_argument, 0, 'e'},
+		{"drawalpha", optional_argument, 0, 'e'},
 		{"drawair", no_argument, 0, OPT_DRAWAIR},
 		{"drawpoint", required_argument, 0, OPT_DRAW_OBJECT},
 		{"drawline", required_argument, 0, OPT_DRAW_OBJECT},
@@ -648,7 +648,17 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 					}
 					break;
 				case 'e':
-					generator.setDrawAlpha(true);
+					if (optarg && string(optarg) == "darken")
+						generator.setDrawAlpha(true, true);
+					else if (optarg && string(optarg) == "nodarken")
+						generator.setDrawAlpha(true, false);
+					else if (!optarg)
+						generator.setDrawAlpha(true);
+					else {
+						std::cerr << "Invalid parameter to '" << long_options[option_index].name << "': '" << optarg << "'" << std::endl;
+						usage();
+						exit(1);
+					}
 					break;
 				case OPT_DRAWAIR:
 					generator.setDrawAir(true);