Monday, June 24, 2013

Super low tides


I'm guessing it's because of it is the summer solstice and the "super full moon" this week. Whatever the reason(s), we are having super super low tides. Coral heads that are never visible are sticking up out of the water. 

These beachrock formations are usually at least partially covered with water. Compare the photo above, taken at low tide yesterday with this one, taken ten days ago.


This is the same beachrock formation it "normally" appears. 

I have KAPped this stretch of beach many times in our years here, partly to capture just such changes in the beach. The sand fills in and washes out different areas of the beach. For example, sometimes the tide pool is just behind (to the left of) that dominant beachrock in the center foreground. Now, as you can see, sand has filled that in and the pool has "moved" west beyond the next rock. 

The sand moves a lot at other beaches as well. Right now, one of our favorite dive sites, Natural, and one of our favorite snorkel sites, Wishing Well, have lots of sand pushed into the beach. We like that. It makes getting in and out easy. When the sand washes out, the exposed rocks are much trickier to navigate, especially in full SCUBA gear.
 

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