We provide an experimental study of the channel characteristics in an underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) system given by a 35-m transmission distance in various water types. A UWOC system using a low-power 488-nm laser diode is established to comprehensively evaluate the influence of the link distance, water turbidity, receiver parameters, and link misalignment on the communication link power. The results show that the link misalignment-induced power loss is significant and the effect of receiver parameters on power is limited. However, a higher turbidity or longer signal transmission distance can help to reduce the link misalignment effect and manifest the receiver parameters effect on the received power. In particular, in turbid waters with an attenuation coefficient of 0.471 m ^{− 1}, the change of the signal reception power curve is small over a certain degree of the link misalignment in the 35-m physical distance, and the reasonable configuration of receiver parameters effectively improves the signal reception quality in the UWOC system. These results can provide theoretical guidance for optimizing the UWOC system.