Guide to Golden Isles Tides
What causes high tides? … Seaweed.
All jokes aside, the tides in the Golden Isles are no laughing matter. The difference between low and high tides on our beaches and marshes is astounding, with an average of seven feet of change between the two. This is very high compared to other coastal regions and a reason for you to be cautious with your little ones while enjoying our sandy shores.
Be Prepared at the Beach
First things first, get those kiddos familiar with beach safety! Glynn County Parks and Rec created a family-friendly Beach Safety Guide that will help your family get familiar with our coastline and potential hazards. Next up, download the Tide Charts app. This is a great tool, providing you with tide predictions, weather forecasts, and lunar data. All of this information will help you to understand whether the tide is going in or out - something you'll want to know before claiming your spot at the beach. Trust us, you don't want to go on a beach stroll only to find your belongings under feet of water upon your return!
Sand Bars
Sand bars look like inviting little islands, but please use caution as it's best to avoid them. Sand bars will reveal themselves at low tide but will quickly be overtaken by water as the tide comes in. This leaves you in danger of fast-moving water and rip currents.
Rip Currents
Our beaches are known for strong rip currents. With the potential to move up to eight feet per second, rip currents in the Golden Isles can move faster than an Olympian swimmer. Rip currents cause an average of 100 deaths yearly and thousands of rescues. Please use caution when you and/or your kids are swimming in the water. Here's a video that helps explain rip currents to children.
Glynn County Parks and Rec have installed three Swim Smart signs on St. Simons Island at Gould's Inlet, Coast Guard Park, and Massengale Park. Operating like a traffic light, it’s connected directly to the National Weather Service and receives real-time updates. The lights are visible from thousands of feet away, with green being the lowest rip current hazard and red being the highest.
Be Prepared While Boating
The Golden Isles waterways aren’t somewhere you can rent a boat and easily just cruise around as you wish whenever you want. With the tides as exaggerated as they are, you must be prepared. You don’t want to beach your boat or hit sandbars, so knowing where it’s safe to boat at what time/tide is vital in boating safety here.
Kings Tide in the Golden Isles
Kings Tide refers to the highest tides that take place in a year. Higher than normal tides typically occur during a new or full moon or during specific seasons around the country. When it’s Kings Tide, some flooding may occur. Even the water along the causeway can get uncomfortably close to the roadway, and you can barely see the grass tips in the marsh as they’re almost completely underwater. If you come across flooded roadways, do not drive your car through them, and stay out of the water.
Helpful Tide Links and Apps
- Download the Beach Safety Guide
- Download the Tide Charts app
- Take a look at the local beach webcams to view the Golden Isles tides online
- View the tide charts here
Be sure to check out our Parents Guide to Golden Isles beaches here.
