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A practical guide to the best tide pooling practices for careful observation of the swimming, crawling, and anchored creatures in all intertidal zones.
This engaging guide to tide pooling transforms casual curiosity into confident exploration. Combining practical advice with accessible natural history, The Tidepooling Handbook teaches beachgoers when and where to find remarkable marine life in rocky tide pools, sandy beaches, and sheltered bays. Photographs accompanied by clear descriptive text celebrate the incredible diversity of crabs, sponges, sea stars, and fish nurseries thriving where land meets sea. Kassidy Wilkins also guides intertidal adventurers on how to approach each creature with care, respect, and wonder as the tide goes out and an astonishing world comes to light.
Written with the budding enthusiast in mind, The Tidepooling Handbook includes easy-to-understand explanations of how tides work and shares advice on personal safety, helpful tide pooling equipment, and tips for taking stellar photographs of the fascinating sea life you'll find. Whether you're exploring Pacific shorelines or rocky coasts anywhere in the world, this is the handbook you'll want to have in your dry bag.
Kassidy Wilkins is a writer and photographer who first visited tide pools at age two and has been enamored with marine life ever since. An editor by day and tidepooler by night (sometimes literally), The Tide Pooling Handbook is Kassidy's first book. She grew up in Southern California and currently lives in Arizona. Follow more of Kassidy's tidepooling adventures at her blog thetideisout.com.
Introduction
How to Use This Book
Chapter 1: The Tides
Tide Mechanics
Tide Times, Charts, and Measurements
Chapter 2: Features of Intertidal Coastline
Intertidal Zones
Intertidal Stressors
Categories of Coastline
Microhabitats
Chapter 3: Tide Pooling Basics
What to Expect
What to Bring
Etiquette and Respect
When to Go Tide Pooling
Navigating Rocky Pools
Tide Pooling with Kids
Chapter 4: Intertidal Inhabitants
Sponges
Cnidarians
Worms
Bryozoans
Mollusks
Crustaceans
Sea Spiders and Horseshoe Crabs
Echinoderms
Tunicates
Fish
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Seaweeds and Flowering Plants
Chapter 5: Finding and Identifying Animals
Animal Identification
Strategies for Finding Animals
Chapter 6: Tide Pooling Ethics, Etiquette, and Responsibilities
Respectful and Responsible Tide Pooling
Collecting
Touching Animals
“Stranded” Animals
MPAs, Restricted Areas, and Private Property
Courtesy to Other Tidepoolers
Chapter 7: Equipment
Basics
Bags and Backpacks
Footwear
Clothing
Optional and Specialty Equipment
Nighttime Equipment
Chapter 8: Safety and Hazards
Use Common Sense and Be Prepared
Uniquely Coastal Hazards
Safety on Rocky Shores
Safety on Sandy and Muddy Shores
Making It Easier on Your Body
Dangerous Intertidal Animals
Chapter 9: Hardcore Tide Pooling
Tide Pooling Alone
Tide Pooling in the Dark
Tide Pooling in Adverse Weather
Chapter 10: Dock Fouling, Beachcombing, and Other Ways to Explore the Intertidal
Dock Fouling
Beachcombing
Kayaking the Intertidal
Chapter 11: Intertidal Photography
Cameras
Nature Photography Composition
The Gold and Silver Rules of Intertidal Photography
Smartphone Photography
Unique Challenges of Intertidal Photography
Light
Photography at Night and in Low Light
Portable Studio Setups
Chapter 12: Citizen Science and Tide Pooling Resources
Citizen Science
Tide Pooling Resources
Acknowledgments