How (and Why) to Read the Tides

When Arielle and Mitch set up camp on Mystic Beach last summer, they thought they had hit the jackpot. At the end of a 2km hike, was an idyllic pebble shoreline, flanked on one end by thick rainforest and on the other by a waterfall cascading down a cliff's edge. They pitched their tent on a secluded campsite enshrouded in driftwood logs, separated from the summer's crowds. It was the hottest weekend of the year and it seemed like the perfect time to camp on this magical spot, save for one tiny overlooked detail. 

Everything was going swimmingly (pun intended) until the wee hours of the morning. At two in the morning, Arielle awoke to the sounds of tidal waves crashing against the rocks and logs. A woman started shrieking as her tent rapidly flooded with water. Groups of campers rushed to move precious belongings and entire campsites away from the encroaching water line. Luckily, everything of importance was saved and the large group of campers survived the night unscathed. But they returned to their urban dwellings the next day with an important wilderness lesson: 

Always check the tides. 

Tides affect all aspects of coastal life: swimming, sailing, surfing, fishing and camping on the beach, to name a few. Romantic meanders along the shoreline can quickly turn into embarrassing darts along the beach thanks to a fast rising high tide. 

Our ocean is a magical place, but to fully take advantage of all that she has to offer, we must learn how she behaves. 

WHAT ARE TIDES?

Tides are the rise-and-fall of sea levels caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. They vary based on the relative positions of the sun, the moon and the Earth, as well as the geographical features of that particular coastline. Many coastlines around the world will have two equal high tides and two equal low tides, however, this is not always the case. Certain protected bodies of water, including our very own Salish Sea, experience “mixed tides”, which follow an uneven tidal pattern (unequal high and low tides). 

HOW TO READ TIDE CHARTS

Since the tides change from day to day and place to place, it’s important to check tide charts or tables as we plan our coastal activities. 

Tide charts present a visual representation of the rise and fall of the tides based on the time of day. 

Taken from https://tides4fishing.com/ca/british-columbia/ganges-harbour#_tides

Tide tables list the high tides and low tides for each day. 

Taken from https://www.tides.gc.ca/eng/station?type=0&date=2021%2F08%2F21&sid=7407&tz=PDT&pres=1

Here are some of our favorite tidal resources: 

• Tides4fishing
• Tides.gc.ca 
• Navionix app

What do all those numbers mean? 

Both tide charts and tide tables give the tide heights based on the chart datum or the average of the lower low water tides in the area. 

What does that mean? 

Statisticians will take the lowest low tide levels of a period of time and calculate the average low tide based on that data. That figure will be considered "zero tide" (or the chart datum)

Basically anything lower than the number one signifies a very very very low tide. 

The high tides are the highest numbers listed during the day. They signify how high over the “chart datum” the water will swell to. 

The greater the “tidal range” or the difference between high tide and low tide on a given day, the more extreme the tides. Low tide will be very low, and high tide will be very high.

Some areas have a much greater tidal range than others, so it's important to know what the tidal patterns are in the area before setting anchor! Southern British Columbia has a tidal range of about 2 meters, whilst the northern coastlines have a tidal range of over seven meters. Meanwhile, The Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada has a tidal range of up to 12 meters!

Cruise ships in Alaska (where the tidal range is quite large) will sometimes have to move the gangway from deck 4 to deck 7 (3 full stories!) in a matter of hours. 

HOW TO APPLY TIDE CHARTS IN REAL LIFE

Find a Tide Chart Based on Your Location 

A simple google search with the keywords “tide chart” and your location of choice will likely provide you with a chart to suit your needs. Be as specific with the location as possible. 

Look for the specific date and time of your beach activity 

Tides vary from day to day. As you plan your coastal activities, you can check for the tide predictions a few weeks in advance. We do recommend rechecking those tides closer to the actual date if you have a big activity planned.

When planning a beach picnic, bonfire or a day of digging for clams, plan for the lowest tide possible.

Extra tip: The wider the tidal range on that day, the lower the low tide!  

When camping on the beach, make sure to set camp above the highest high tide mark for that time period.

When going for a walk along the beach, check to see if the tides are rising or falling. 

Sailing over shallow waters? Plan to sail over high tide

Watch Out for Tidal Currents!

As the ocean moves from one tidal extreme to the next, a current will form, pushing the water in or out. This is important to remember when taking a kayak or paddle board out into the great blue sea. If you’re having an easier-than-normal time paddling out to sea, that may be because a current is working in your favor. Be wary! For once you decide on heading back in, that same tidal current could start working against you. 

Don’t always expect a regular tidal pattern. In areas with “Mixed Tides” (such as the Gulf Islands), the tidal heights can sometimes plateau 

This means that the high tide will sometimes stay high for an extended period of time. Make your plans accordingly! 

Remember: A little tidal knowledge goes a long way! 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/how-and-why-to-read-the-tides

Uncovering the Benefits of Cold Water Swimming

There is a delirious amount of hype that surrounds any activity that bears the word “healthy”. We are here to answer the big query behind the trend: Is cold water swimming as beneficial as they claim? And is it truly worth that searing shock that engulfs your entire being? 

 

It’s impossible to trace the beginnings of mankind's deliberate plunge into the cold sea. What we do know for certain is that these intentional icy dips have been around for a very long time. One of the first written accounts of the benefits of cold water bathing can be traced back to 400 BC. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, discussed the potential of cold water therapy long before Jesus had the chance to turn water into wine. 

Clearly, this pastime is no modern day invention. In Canada, the polar bear swim is a well known New Years Day tradition. In Norway, Finland and Sweden, ice swimming is inextricably linked to their culture of saunas and winter bathing. In Russia, every year, thousands of Arctic residents take an icy plunge to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. Yet despite its long-standing existence, cold water swimming has, until recently, been limited to select groups of peoples; extreme athletes who revel in pushing their bodies to the limits or far-flung cultures where swimming in the cold is viewed as a necessity, not a hobby. 

Today, it’s a different story. 

Thanks to a modern wave of health claims (and a sensation named Wim Hof), millions of people across the world are making that courageous choice to ditch their winter coats and dive right in. Cold water swimming is everywhere and anywhere that warrants the use of a sweater. And who can blame them? The well-advertised claims are hefty. They say it can help with your headaches, your muscles, those extra 10 pounds, your lingering anxiety and even your overall immunity. 

Could all of this be true? 

We sifted through the health blogs and trendy documentaries, to see if there was any rhyme to their reason, and what we uncovered was a pile of overwhelming scientific evidence. There’s almost too much data to include in one article. For the winter water skeptics out there, we’ve learned that cold water swimming isn’t just good for the body or the psyche, it’s downright exhilarating. 

1. It Boosts Your Immune System. Increasing evidence supports the theory that cold water shocks help stimulate our immune system. Several studies also report higher white blood cell counts in cold water swimmers1. Given that white blood cells are our body’s key to fighting infection and disease, cold water-induced immunity is sounding pretty promising!

1. It’s Good For Cardiovascular Health. Whenever we take an icy plunge, our hearts are forced to increase blood flow throughout the body, leading to improved circulation. Various studies have shown that repeated exposure to cold water has a “positive impact on cardiovascular risk factors'', decreasing triglycerides and homocysteine which are linked to heart disease.1 In another study, regular cold baths were shown to decrease blood pressure and lower cholesterol.4 

1. It’s A Stress-Reliever. A lot of things happen to our bodies when we undergo that initial icy shock. On one hand, our bodies are flooded with endorphins that provide pain relief and an immediate sense of elation. On the other hand, as we learn to adapt to the stress of the plunge, our bodies also, inadvertently, become better at adapting to other forms of stress. It turns out that the more we plunge, the better we become at handling everyday anxieties.2

It Increases Your Metabolism. Studies have shown that swimming in cold water increases your basal metabolic rate, meaning you burn more calories for longer. 

1. It Helps Combat Depression. Cold water bathing is now being used as an alternative therapy for patients with severe depression and anxiety. The results have been overwhelmingly positive. One case study discusses a clinically depressed woman in her twenties who, after years of unsuccessful medication use, was prescribed regular cold water therapy. After just a few sessions, she showed signs of improved mood, and in just one year, she was declared completely drug-free.1 

It’s a Great Way to Connect with Strangers. There’s nothing quite like shared adversity to unite a group of people. “When you have the cold sea to face together,” cold water enthusiast Dani explains “you will connect and unite instantly.” 

It Feels Amazing. For the uninitiated, it’s hard to imagine that the benefits of a cold water swim outweigh the pain of its plunge. Science (and overwhelming anecdotal evidence) are here to tell us that they do. Two minutes under icy water can result in hours of euphoria. The surge of happy hormones is both physically and mentally uplifting. “It’s exhilarating.” Jessica Wilson declares. “It makes you feel alive!” 

 

 

For many, conquering the cold is tantamount to waging victory against our greatest fears. It transforms the frightening into the rewarding, allowing the rest of life to feel easy. We’ve also heard that the euphoria one gets from a cold-water plunge is nothing short of addictive, hinting that this winter pastime is no passing fad. After all, if it doesn’t make superhumans out of all of us, it’ll at least fill us with delirious amounts of glee. 

NOTE: Today, cold water swimming is practiced by individuals of all ages and fitness levels. But it’s important to note that cold water swimming comes with some risks and should be approached with caution, especially for the very young and the inexperienced elderly. The most important aspect of safe cold water plunging is to do so slowly and to listen to your body. Allow your body to acclimatize (don’t jump right in), leave the water once you start shivering and make sure to enjoy this activity with other people. 

Join SALT + The Local Picnic on their next Cold Water Plunge. 

Sources

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7730683/

2 https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/cold-water-swimming-why-an-icy-dip-is-good-for-your-mental-and-physical-health/

3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22141210/ 

4 https://beyondfitness.uk/taking-the-plunge-we-explore-the-latest-health-trend-of-cold-water-swimming/

5

https://www.iprshealth.com/news/8-benefits-of-cold-water-swimming/#:~:text=It%20improves%20your%20circulation,adapts%20us%20to%20the%20cold.

6 

https://beyondfitness.uk/taking-the-plunge-we-explore-the-latest-health-trend-of-cold-water-swimming/

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/uncovering-the-benefits-of-cold-water-swimming