SUNSHINE COAST TIDAL INFORMATION

Low Tide Davis Bay/Selma Park
Low tide, Davis Bay; at extremely high tide/in storms the ocean can get right up to the steps along the seawall.

All tidal information listed below are tidal predictions only and should not be relied upon for navigation. Check these predictions against officially sanctioned tables, and remember that weather conditions affect tidal ranges and current speeds, sometimes very strongly.

You can view the 2020 Skookumchuck Viewing Timetables here. Be sure to thoroughly read over the accompanying information for a safe and enjoyable trip.

Skookumchuck Rapids in summer
Spectators at Skookumchuck Rapids watch experienced whitewater kayakers surf the Skook.



NOT FOR NAVIGATION
This information is distributed for your assistance, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Both the contributing web sites and the Bigpacific.com portal assume no liability for damages arising from use of these predictions. They are not certified to be correct, and they do not incorporate the effects of tropical storms, El Niño, seismic events, continental drift, or changes in global sea level.

What's the difference between Tides and Currents?

Courtesy of Sunshine Coast Tours

Tidal predictions for the Sunshine Coast are based on the Point Atkinson tide port. This one port is common to most of the Georgia Basin area. The predictions are listed in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) publication (Canadian Tide and Current Tables) and reproduced in several places. Secondary stations around the basin are shown in tables in the DFO book. These tables give time corrections for alternate areas.

Times in the government publication are all Pacific Standard time. No corrections are made for daylight savings time. Other publications may vary. Apply the appropriate time corrections for secondary stations. Corrections are generally small. Here are a few examples for low water corrections:

Gibsons deduct 2 min
Irvines Landing add 4 min
Egmont add 9 min

Once you go into Sechelt Inlet the observed tides are quite different from Point Atkinson and corrections are large. Tide water gets into this area through narrow and relatively shallow channels. This restriction slows the rise of the water. Observed high and low water are off cycle with Point Atkinson by as much as 3 hours. The tidal range is greatly reduced from the 16.6 feet that is seen at Point Atkinson.

Another effect caused by these restrictions is a strong tidal streams in the approach to Sechlet Inlet. Skookumchuck Narrows is a unique area; a world phenomena. The fastest tidal flow here occurs in an section of Skookumchuck Narrows named Sechelt Rapids. Specific current tables are generated for this location and published in DFO Canadian Tide and Current Tables Volumn 5 publication. Be sure to look under the correct station name when using this book; i.e. Sechelt Rapids, not Skookumchuck.

When depth of water or high or low slack water is the critical factor you want to know consult the tide predictions and make the local correction necessary. Keep in mind that the actual event may vary significantly from the prediction. Many factors affect the observed tide. Nothing can substitute from due diligence, local knowledge or good luck.

Boaters looking for easy passage through Sechelt Rapids should consult the current tables and travel close to the time marked as "Turn", the period of still water. It is possible to calculate water speed at a given time between turns. There are computer programs available to do this for you. The formula is not difficult and can be learned by reading through an appropriate reference.

Sightseers wanting to view the spectacle at the Skookumchuck should time their visit to be at the observation point close to the time marked "Maximum". Current speed is shown in knots (1 knot equals 1.15 statute miles per hour) with a "+" symbol noting a flood stream and "-" symbol noting an ebb stream.