How to read a tide clock
On our time-tide clocks, you've got 4 hands! The traditional hour, minute, and seconds hands, plus one more. On our tide-only clocks its a bit simpler because there is only one hand, and the face is different to the traditional time clock. On all our clocks, the tide hand moves clockwise. When it is pointing at the bottom of the clock its telling you that it is now low tide. When it is pointing at the top of the clock its telling you that it is now high tide. As it rotates down from the top to the bottom,. its showing you how long until the next low tide, and indicating that the tide is falling. As it rotates up from the bottom to the top its showing you how long until the next high tide, and indicating that the tide is rising. Keep in mind that the time between high tide and low tide is not 6 hours- its about 10 mins more.
Here are some examples:
 |
The time is a ten to 2, and its just gone high tide
(large hand pointing to the top). From now on the tide will be receeding.
The moon is a full moon now.
|
|
Its ten to 2, and its just gone past low tide (blue hand at the bottom pointing to the 6). From now on the tide will be rising. It will be high tide in a bit more than 6 hours when the blue hand points to the 12. |
 |
Its just gone high tide (big hand at the top pointing to "HIGH"). From now on the tide will be falling. It will be low tide in about 6 hours when the hand points to the bottom. |
Please visit our FAQ for more explanation about how tide clocks work and if it will work in your area
