How to Go Tidepooling at Low Tide

Tidepooling is one of the easiest ways to meet wild marine life up close — no boat, no gear, just good timing. The trick is going when the tide is low enough to expose the pools.

Pick the right tide

The lower the tide, the more shoreline is exposed. Aim for a tide of about 1–2 feet or lower; a 'minus' tide (below zero on the MLLW datum) is ideal.

Use TideTime's Tidepooling preset to list daytime lows under 2 feet for your beach, then sort by the lowest to find the best days.

Read the tide window

A tide chart shows a smooth curve between highs and lows. The water keeps dropping until the low, then turns and comes back in.

Plan to arrive an hour or two before the predicted low so you can work your way out as the water retreats, and start heading back as it turns.

Best time of year

On the West Coast, the biggest daytime minus tides come in two waves: early mornings from May through July, and afternoon lows during the November–January king-tide cycles. In Puget Sound and Alaska, the year's lowest daytime tides cluster near the summer solstice — winter's extreme lows mostly happen at night.

On the East Coast, tides run twice a day year-round and the biggest lows follow the new and full moon; June through September pairs those spring tides with warm, calm conditions. In Hawaii the tide range is tiny, so a calm-surf day matters more than the tide table.

What you'll find

Anemones, hermit crabs, shore crabs, sculpins, snails, and limpets show up in almost every pool. Look closer for sea stars, urchins, chitons, brittle stars, and nudibranchs — and check under ledges near the lowest water line for an octopus.

The lowest zone, exposed only on minus tides, holds the best finds. Work your way out as the water drops and give every pool a minute to settle; the animals resume moving once you stop casting shadows.

Stay safe

Wear shoes with grip, watch for slippery algae, and keep an eye on the incoming tide and waves. Never turn your back on the ocean — and know that winter king-tide lows coincide with storm-swell season on the West Coast, when sneaker waves are a real hazard.

Tread lightly: look but don't pry animals off rocks, put rocks back as you found them, and follow local rules on collecting. If you find an octopus, watch it without handling it — they bite.

Tide charts for tidepooling beaches

Stations with nearby rocky intertidal spots, species to look for, and the best seasons:

Find tidepooling tides near you →