The oceans’ tides affect the life of all creatures that live in various tidal zones, and they affect us as divers, as well. Understanding the way that tides work can enable you to make the most of each and every dive, plus it can help you stay just a little safer. Affected by the Earth’s rotation, along with the shape of the sea or ocean you are diving in, as well as by the constant interplay between Earth and Moon, tides and the way they affect diving conditions vary from one region to the next.
The History of Tide Tables
Unlike much early scientific knowledge which was established by Greeks and Romans, understanding of the tides and rules for predicting them originated along the coasts of Britain and France during the early 13th century. Today’s scientists suppose that this is because tidal changes in the Mediterranean Sea are only about a foot or so, while tidal changes of as much as thirty feet between high and low tide can be experienced around Europe’s coasts, particularly around the new and full moons. While people did not understand the science behind the tides, they did observe tidal activity carefully, and they became adept at making accurate predictions, as well. By the year 1213, ship’s captains were using tide tables that measured London Bridge’s high tide times to determine when to set sail. In the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton defined gravity, enabling scientists to learn even more about the intricate forces that cause tides to occur.
How Tide Tables Help Divers
You don’t have to understand how tides work with the moon and the sun to understand tide tables and put them to good use. If you are a shore diver, though, you’ll want to pay very close attention, and even if you dive from a boat in areas just off shore, what you know can help you determine when best to dive. Tides move massive amounts of water in a fairly rapid amount of time in some instances, creating dangerous currents. They also determine whether rocks or pinnacles will be exposed, and they can allow you to explore dive sites that might be too deep for your experience level at high tide, but which are ideal for you to enjoy at low tide. Snorkeling over tide pool areas which are completely covered over at high tide and uncovered at low tide can be great fun, as you can see huge amounts of life in action while snorkeling, then visit again to see what happens to those creatures when the tide goes out.
In the United States, tide tables produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are readily available; NOAA also provides predictions about many other world regions, enabling divers and other water sports enthusiasts to determine when various sites are going to be at their best.
Keep in mind that tidal activity can affect visibility as well; as water moves from one place to the next, particulate matter and tiny organisms move with it. If you’re visiting a new area, you’ll enjoy your dives much more if you check out the local dive shop for in-depth information and advice about local tides, since tide tables can only tell you so much information about the way those tides affect all aspects of various sites.