Microbubbles in the ocean may be coated by a thin film of surfactant since such substances can be abundant in natural waters. Such films may affect the optical and acoustical properties of bubbles. We investigated theoretical light scattering patterns for a spherical gas bubble (of radiusa) coated by a film of uniform thicknesshand refractive indexnfsurrounded by water of refractive indexnω = 4/3. The patterns were computed from the partial‐wave series of Aden and Kerker forkaranging from 100–2500, where 2π/kis the optical wavelength in water. The corresponding range ofais 7.5–189/μm;hranged from 0–3/μm andnfwas typically real and equal to 1.5. Noncoated bubbles exhibit coarse irradiance oscillations as the scattering angle θ decreases below a critical value for total reflection (θc= 82.8°); a broad minimum in the polarized irradiance is expected near the Brewster scattering angle θB= 106.3° [P. L. Marstonet al., Appl. Sci. Res.38, 373–383 (1982)]. Coatings shift the coarse oscillations towards larger θ whennf>nωin agreement with predictions of ray optics. If the irradiance near 82.8° is used to size bubbles, the effects of this shift are negligible for anticipated coating parameters. The minimum near θB, however, is predicted to be significantly lifted by coatings. [Work supported by NORDA and by ONR.]