Author: Kassidy Wilkins
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Too Small To See
Most animals that live in the intertidal are small on most scales. Certainly on the human scale, you won’t often find anything that isn’t several dozen times smaller than you. I rather like this aspect of the tide pools, but even I must admit that some animals are simply too small. I don’t mean the…
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One Tide Pool
Like any other “seek and find” hobby (bird watching, fossil hunting, coin collecting, etc), tide pooling often feels like you hit the jackpot or you’re wasting your time. While it might seem like I only ever hit jackpots, remember I chose what I share on this blog. I just don’t write often about times I…
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Can you Go Tide Pooling In Hawaii?
The short answer is yes! Absolutely you can go tide pooling in Hawaii and other tropical islands. The long answer is that it might look a little different if you are used to tide pooling in temperate regions like Europe or the West Coast of the U.S. Let’s break down some of these differences so…
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Sea-not-quite slugs: Trivia, Erato, and Allies
Over the past several months, I’ve taken a deep dive into marine gastropod taxonomy. Riveting, I know, but I find that the more I know about these creatures, the more interesting they become and the more likely I am to find them while tide pooling. Particularly, I’ve recently been interested in the superfamily Velutinoidea, more commonly…
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Welcome back and Summer 2025 Tide Pooling Logs
Hello everybody!! Welcome back to the Tide Is Out. Thanks to everyone for your patience this summer as I took a little break to work on other projects, do a ton of traveling and of course, go tide pooling! I’ve got some great resources coming up, along with logs of our trips over the past…
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Two New Species of Nudibranch Described from California
Unlike my last new species post (April Fools, if you didn’t notice the date ;), these two new species are real, and they live right off the coast where many of us tide pool: Doto urak and Doto kwakwak. Neither of these species in the Doto family are very common and only have a few…
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Can I Touch Sea Stars at the Tide Pools?
The short answer: Usually, yes! Long answer: Sea stars are some of the most fascinating animals in the tide pools. They are often the biggest animals casual beachgoers will see, so it’s common to ask whether it is safe to touch or hold them. Generally, you can gently touch the sea stars you see in…
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Can I Wear Rain Boots At the Tide Pools?
Short Answer: Rain boots do ok in the intertidal, but there might be better options you already have in your closet. Long Answer: Read on! Shoes are really important for tide pooling, both to prevent injuries to your feet and to prevent slipping. For more information about shoes in general, read this article. A common…
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The “Sand Ploughman” That Travels the World
In the winter and shoulder seasons around the world, observant beachgoers might notice a mostly white, speedy little bird foraging in the wet sand or sleeping in groups nestled higher on the shore. The less observant beachgoer might only be startled when a small flock of birds with sandy-gray backs that were camouflaged in the…
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Are Tide Pools Dangerous?
It’s natural to wonder about safety before visiting the tide pools. The ocean is a dangerous place, and the shore can be unfriendly to those who aren’t prepared. However, you’ll be glad to know that most people can safely explore the intertidal zone in most places along the coast. But that doesn’t mean there is…
About the blog
The Tidepooler is a blog focused on education and information about the tide pools and rocky shore environments along the coasts of the world’s oceans. With more understanding and enthusiasm, these important ecosystems can be sustainably explored for science, curiosity, and appreciation of their beauty.
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