A tide pool is a small pocket of seawater that gets trapped among rocks when the ocean tide goes out. Twice a day, ocean tides rise and fall. When high tide comes in, waves crash over rocky shorelines and fill every crack and crevice. When the water retreats at low tide, some seawater remains behind in these natural rock basins, creating temporary little worlds teeming with ocean life.

Tide pools are like aquariums that nature creates and refreshes twice daily. Peek into one and you might see sea stars clinging to rocks, hermit crabs scuttling across the bottom, sea anemones waving their tentacles, tiny fish darting between stones, and mussels clustered together. The creatures living there have adapted to survive dramatic changes: they endure pounding waves, then hours exposed to sun and air, then darkness, then crashing waves again.

Exploring tide pools teaches you to look closely. What first appears to be just a puddle of water reveals itself as a complete ecosystem when you crouch down and observe carefully. Scientists study tide pools to learn how ocean animals survive in harsh, changing conditions. Many coastal areas protect tide pools, asking visitors to look but not touch, so these fragile communities can thrive.