Understanding Tides
In certain parts of the world, like the Mediterranean, the sea remains relatively constant in its location. However, if you're a sea swimmer in the UK, you're well acquainted with the significant tidal variations. Tides can be extensive and ever-changing, ensuring that no two swims are alike.
How does the sea transform?
The sea is impacted by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun in relation to the earth.
Full moon over the English Channel
Spring Tides and Neap Tides
Spring tides happen at full moon and new moon, for 7 days every other week of the month. Neap tides occur only on the half moons for 7 days, so every other week of the month. Spring tides are also known as king tides. The biggest misconception is that they happen in the season of spring, but they occur all year. They are more extreme than the neap tides, so a high spring tide is much higher than a high neap tide and a low spring will be a lot lower than a neap. The heights and timings of tides will vary to what beach you’re on.
Currents
It’s important to understand that more water moves during the middle two hours of both and incoming (flood) and outgoing (ebb) tide. This means that the currents will be stronger. On a spring tide, due to the low tide being lower and the high tide being higher, more water will be moving further between these two extremes. This means that the currents will be stronger in a spring tide than a neap tide.
Slack Tide
In many places the slack tide will come one hour either side of high or low tide. This does vary in some places so it’s good to always check local conditions. It’s generally safer to swim in slack water as there’s no current moving, however there are some places where it’s actually safer at low tide, so again always check local conditions.
Learn to read tide tables
Magic Seaweed is a useful website to check tides, and it’s what I use for checking general sea conditions. Also ask experienced local swimmers, sailors and other knowledgable people on how the water behaves.
For more information on understanding tides you can book a session in with me where we go through all of the local sea theory. Read HERE