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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Latest Posts
- Too Small To See
- One Tide Pool
- Can you Go Tide Pooling In Hawaii?
- Sea-not-quite slugs: Trivia, Erato, and Allies
- Welcome back and Summer 2025 Tide Pooling Logs
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Tide pooling guides
5 Steps to Finding an Octopus at the Tide Pools
When I was a kid, finding an octopus at the tide pools was the ultimate victory. This elusive creature is truly a treat to see in the wild. Often argued to be the smartest of all invertebrates, octopi are one of the most fascinating creatures in the ocean and if you’re lucky, you can find one in the tide pools. If you want to see an octopus in the tide pools but aren’t sure where to start, I’ve got your covered. Here are 5 simple steps to (hopefully) finding…
5 Dangerous Animals to Look Out For In The Tide Pools
“How can I stay safe on the coast?” is a common tide pooling question. While you are far more likely to be injured by a wave or a rock in the tide pools, some animals can potentially harm you. We’ll…
Marine Invertebrate and Intertidal Terms
Tide pooling isn’t an exclusive hobby for those only with scientific knowledge. But because it deals with marine invertebrates and the ecology of the intertidal, there is plenty of science to delve into, if you want. Every scientific field has field-specific terms that are used to simplify concepts and aid in communication. Therefore, understanding scientific…
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Birds of California’s Rocky Intertidal
For many tidepoolers, the most exciting wildlife is at our feet, the tiny invertebrates that make the intertidal their permanent home. But out of the water, there is other wildlife just as interesting to watch and often much larger: birds. Many varieties of birds visit the intertidal to hunt, forage, rest, or escape predators themselves. …
Nudibranchs and sea slugs
Tide Pooling Log: Orange County Eelgrass beds Before Dawn
Most of my tide pooling as a kid was on rocky shores where it’s easy to spot animals and there is an abundance of life. But recently, I’ve been educating myself about sandy and muddy shores and finally got a…
Tide Pooling Log: Pre-Dawn Summer Low Tide in Orange County
Pre-dawn summer low tides are some of the best of the year in Southern California. You can avoid the crowds and the heat while getting the warm water summer species during an excellent low tide. I took advantage of several…
I Went to the Intertidal During a “High” Low Tide; Here’s What I Found
During the lowest of low daytime tides, you’ll find hordes of people at popular tide-pooling locations. Everyone knows that you have to visit during the lowest tides to see the best stuff, right? Well, kinda. For the intertidal enthusiast, visiting…
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