Which tide is better for snorkeling: high tide or low tide?

 

Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal

The first thing you need to know is that the sea is calmest from 30 to 60 minutes before the tide changes until 30 to 60 minutes after it changes.

On the other hand, two hours before high or low tide is when the moving current triggers a feeding frenzy, making fish far more active and much easier to spot.


Sesimbra, Portugal

Combining these two factors according to convenience and objective is fundamental; that is, is it more important to see more fish or to have calmer seas in that location?

When snorkeling in the Atlantic, for example, having calm seas is very important.

But going back to the initial question, should I snorkel at high tide or low tide?

It depends on the place; some places are better at high tide, others at low tide, and others at both.

You need to know the location, ask around, and experiment.

For me, safety issues are always the most important, meaning which scenario is best for the sea to be calmer and safer.

Only then do other factors come into play, such as the conditions for seeing more fish or seeing them in a better way.

To illustrate, I will show two places in my country: Costa da Caparica and the natural pools of Porto de Frades on the island of Porto Santo.

In Costa da Caparica, the sea is quite open to the ocean, and there is some swell, and it is only protected by the existing piers.


On Santo António beach is the largest pier, which, due to its length, serves as a shelter for various fish and also provides some stabilization of the sea, which occurs mainly at high tide because the sea advances further and the area protected by the pier is larger.

Santo António pier in Costa da Caparica

Of course, this calmness of the sea is more pronounced during the change of tide and when the wind is less intense; in any case, in Costa da Caparica it is always better to dive at high tide.

The natural pools of Porto dos Frades on Porto Santo Island in Madeira have a configuration that makes them closed to the sea during low tide.



This way, during this period, they offer perfect visibility and calm conditions for exploration.

Porto dos Frades, Porto Santo


Remember to always dive 30 to 60 minutes before the tide changes and stay for 30 to 60 minutes after the tide changes to calmer water.

If the location allows and you want to see more fish, dive two hours before the tide changes.

The choice between high and low tide depends on the location and its characteristics.


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