Exploring the outdoors doesn't have to be as extreme as living out of a backpack in the woods for months, climbing a really tall mountain, or plunging into the depths of the open ocean. At UCSB, we are lucky enough to be able to try vastly different ways of enjoying nature in our everyday lives. The rich environment allows for several chill activities, including tidepooling! Tidepooling references the pools of water that appear during low tide, where we humans can observe underwater critters.
Right at the western edge of Isla Vista lies Coal Oil Point, also known as “Sands." It is a UC Natural Reserve. This means it’s a protected environment rich with life, giving us as students an opportunity to learn about this marine community in our very own backyards. At low tide, there’s a chance to see anemones, crabs, sea stars, sea snails, and even octopuses! This short guide aims to get you ready for a day of sensory exploration and discovery, written by an amateur tidepooler herself.
When to go: First things first, you want to check the tide forecast for Isla Vista. This chart is so much easier for me to read than the weather forecast (please, will I ever be able to dress appropriately for mid-60 degree weather? 😭😭😭). The peaks mean that it’s high tide and the dips mean that it’s low tide. To break it down further, the highest and lowest tide is timestamped by the forecast.
You don't have to go right at the posted time. For example, the lowest tide on June 17th is at 7:14 AM. Going 30 minutes before or after 7:14 AM will still give you ample opportunity to check out the shore before it gets inundated with ocean water.
The best time to go tidepooling is anytime the tide is below zero feet. This is because the intertidal zone will be exposed and full of critters. The intertidal zone is the area between the highest tide and the lowest tide. It is split into four different zones: spray and splash zone, high tide zone, low tide zone, and the submerged zone. The different creatures found in each zone are based on resilience to stress from waves, water availability, and sunlight.
What to bring:
Your fully charged phone 📱
Before heading off, download Seek by iNaturalist (not an ad, but if iNaturalist wants to sponsor, hit my line 😎). By simply pointing your phone camera at a critter, the app will tell you exactly what species you are looking at and whether it is native to California. This is a great way to start being able to identify critters by sight!
Your water bottle!
The ocean air is salty and the sun might be strong. Stay hydrated so that you have a good time!
Shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.
Shorts or pants that you don’t mind getting wet.
A hat!
What to expect: You will get wet! The best way to enjoy the pools is to stick your feet and hands in and really get up in there. The water is usually cold, but not freezing. There will probably be a cool ocean breeze. Look around and under rocks and observe what you see. Some of these animals are hidden in their shells. When you come across an animal, you can touch it gently with wet hands, as dry hands may hurt the animal. Replace the animals just as you found them—on the same rock or in the same pool.
Take pictures, have fun, and learn about the amazing community that is the intertidal zone!
Lizzy Mau (they/she) is a graduating senior in the class of 2022. They enjoy tidepooling as a way of getting their friends outdoors. Her favorite critters to find are crabs!
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