Dive in Deeper - Rocky Shore Safari

The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore is the area above water at low tide and covered by water at high tide.

During a low tide this is a great place to explore as you get the chance to walk amongst sea creatures that have become stranded on land. Always take a friend, beware of slippery rocky and keep an eye on the water as the tide can return fast.

Organisms in the intertidal zone are adapted to an environment of harsh extremes. The intertidal zone is home to many animals but they are well suited to life in this challenging environment and have clever ways to cope with the stress of drying out and changes in temperature and salinity.

Those animals that are mobile, like crabs and fish may move up and down the shoreline with the tide, but can sometimes become trapped in tide pools. Animals and seaweeds that are fixed in place have ways to close off their bodies to trap water, or reduce their surface area, to prevent desiccation when they become stranded above the tide line.

Visit to Touchpools in the Sea Lab area of the aquarium to learn more about the sorts of animals you can expect to find while rockpooling.