How to Read a Tide Chart Before a Santa Barbara Beach Day

Tides shape everything about a beach day — where the sand is, how strong the current runs, and which spots are safe for beginners. Here's how to read a tide chart in under five minutes.

High Tide vs. Low Tide

At high tide, waves push further up the beach and can create stronger shore break. At low tide, more sand is exposed but rip currents can be more pronounced near sandbars.

Checking a Chart

• Timing: Note the times of the day's high and low tides before you leave.
• Swing: A bigger swing between high and low usually means stronger currents.

We check tide charts as part of our daily safety briefing at every After-School and Weekend Season, every single day, no exceptions.

You can check live Santa Barbara tide predictions yourself at NOAA Tides & Currents.