Most hours of the day, the sea creatures live under the ocean’s surface, away from sight.
But for a few hours during low tide – especially this week as the tides reach negative levels – ocean critters and their rocky homes are exposed and on display for curious lookie-loos wanting to get a glimpse at the fascinating underwater world within the intercoastal ecosystem.
Winter tides in the afternoon this week are prime time for “tidepooling,” a popular pastime along coastal Southern California and a great opportunity to show off the shoreline to relatives and friends spending their holidays here, or for an outdoor educational opportunity for youngsters out of school during holiday break.
If you want a guided tour with an expert to walk you through the species you’re likely to encounter, the Cabrillo Aquarium in San Pedro and the Ocean Institute in Dana Point are both holding guided tours this week when the tide drops in the afternoon.
Exploring tidepools offers a great picture of all the efforts people have put into maintaining a healthy ecosystem along the Southern California coastline, said Kaitlyn Davidson, growth marketing manager for the Ocean Institute.
“It really allows us to get a great insight into what our oceans can be when we take care of them; and when we put in those effort to maintain their habitats, we can see some great marine life,” she said. “It allows us to get really good insight as scientists, researchers and ocean lovers to see the most pristine beauty of the ocean and intertidal zone.”
There’s plenty of places to tidepool on your own along the coast, with Palos Verdes, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove and Corona del Mar among the most popular places people like to explore.
Popular creatures include the colorful anemone and hermit crabs that live in the pools of water that are created among the rocks when the tides recede. Sea cucumbers and black sea hares are big, squishy-looking creatures, or you may get lucky and see a…
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