The recently introduced power spectrum model for natural water turbulence, i.e., that at any average temperature, average salinity, and stratification [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 37, 1614 (2020)JOAOD61084-752910.1364/JOSAA.399150], is extended from weak to moderate-to-strong regimes with the help of the spatial filtering approach. Based on the extended spectrum, the expressions for the scintillation index (SI) are obtained, and based on its signal-to-noise ratio and bit error rate of the underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) system with the on-off-keying modulation and gamma–gamma irradiance distribution model, the analysis is performed. The obtained results are compared with those derived from the widely used Nikishov and Nikishov spectrum. It is shown that the natural water turbulence results in the SI for plane (spherical) waves attaining higher maxima values at shorter propagation distances, about 20 m (40 m) with respect to 30 m (50 m) of Nikishovs turbulence. Therefore, it predicts a stronger degradation of the UWOC system performance in weak and moderate turbulence regimes.