The ocean took a step back Wednesday morning (May 28), and community members of Victoria eagerly stepped in.
Some of the lowest tides of the year swept through Greater Victoria just before 10:45 a.m., pulling the shoreline far beyond its usual edge and revealing pockets of sea life normally hidden beneath the waves. With tides dipping to around -0.22 metres, beachgoers across the region found themselves with extra room to roam.
The reason for the dramatic ebb? A rare mix of lunar and solar alignment.
Monday’s new moon (May 26) brought the sun, moon, and Earth into near-perfect alignment, triggering a phenomenon known as a spring tide, where the highs get higher and the lows get lower. These occur twice monthly, but this week’s was supercharged. The moon is also reaching its northernmost point relative to the equator on May 28, amplifying its gravitational influence over local waters.
The result: a dramatic swing in ocean levels. While the morning tide sank low, high tides earlier in the day surged to nearly three metres and are expected to peak again early Thursday morning.
For Sammy Lizaro of Sooke, the rare low tide was a golden opportunity to get her kids outside and exploring. They headed to Esquimalt Lagoon to see what the water left behind.
“Our kids love to come down to the beach and look in the little tide pools on any given day, but today, with the low tides, they were super excited,” she said. “We didn’t see anything too out of the ordinary yet, but we’re planning to try out some other beaches over the next couple of days.”
Carl Slorren, a regular along the Dallas Road path, found himself changing course when the shoreline opened up.
“I love walking along the cement walkway that overlooks the water, and I usually just stay up there,” Slorren said. “But this morning, I saw so much sand that I decided to head in that direction.”
Slorren said he walks the area every morning, often without stopping to fully take in his surroundings.
“Sometimes I take it for granted,” the Oak Bay resident said. “This was a gentle reminder to myself this morning that it’s OK to alter plans and slow down. I do this walk every day and often forget the beauty of the ocean – today was not one of those days.”
For those who missed the show, more chances are on the way. The low tide will continue on Thursday (May 29) morning, with the tide expected to dip to -0.13 metres at 11:34 a.m.
