This weekend, starting on Thursday, we have the lowest daylight tides of the year. It will be great tidepooling around noon everyday till Sunday. Pick a spot and head down to the water's edge and enjoy the spectacle; the myriad forms of marine life will be exposed. If you can, take a kayak/boat to the Gorge cliffs and catch the 'slack'. Specialties there are anemones galore hanging from the cliffs and the rare Giant barnacles-as big as your fist! They are only visible on such low tides.
If you decide to go to the sand flats be careful when you are in sand dollar territory! Stay away, when you feel crunching under foot - it will tell you you are crushing them. Skirt all Sand dollar expanses.
If you decide to turn over small rocks do it with great care underneath. And take very special care putting the rock back, so as not to crush the intertidal life. Always put the rocks back.
Pick rocky areas that have good tidal flow, as these will produce the greatest number of species to view.
Naturally wear sun screen, a big hat and water shoes. The UV radiation will be extreme at high noon. Go to the Fisheries and Oceans website for precise low tide times, but you can't go wrong by going around noon on the next four days.
We live on a rich planet and we are very fortunate to have such a diversity and splendour right at our doorstep.
Listen out for my show 'Nature Boy' on CKTZ this fall!