Danger on the California Coast

While the Central Coast doesn’t have to same elements Thailand does, high tides can trap people along our rugged coast.

It’s a problem the coast guard faces every year. Whether it’s people climbing cliffs, exploring little caves, or jumping across stones, high tide can trap people in bad situations if you’re not careful.

Crystal Chavanne with Aquarius Dive Shop says, “I know how beautiful it looks from like the cliff side and you want to go down there, but there is a reason there is no footprints down there ya know, there is a reason why there is no trails.”

Crystal has been diving for 11 years, so she is pretty experienced when it comes to the water. But growing up on the east coast even she was surprised by how powerful the pacific can be. “I rock hopped to take photos of a seal, and I turned around and all the rocks were gone, and that is what surge is.”

But she isn’t the only one who has made that mistake. The coast guard says they have rescues every year with people getting trapped when the tide comes up.

“So I’ll see it all the time kicking out usually around Carmel. People think it is a good idea to climb
the rocks when they really don’t quite understand the waves and how it works,” says Crystal.

And this is one of the reasons places like McWay falls don’t have beach access. These secluded spots can pose danger when big waves and the tide come in. But it’s not just there. Cliffs and little caves are sprinkled all up and down the California coast line.

The tide can change dramatically within the course of only six hours… but the good news is it is predictable. There are 100’s of tide charts online to choose from. Just click one and you can see when high and low tide are for a specific day to plan out your activities.

So the next time you are planning a surf with stair access, or exploring the majestic beauty of California… know before you go.