Here is a Primer to help navigate the
Bay of Fundy’s Minas Basin Highest Tides in the World
Anyone who has had the privilege of experiencing the “Meeting of the Waters” near Two Islands understands the speed and force of the incoming tide. Crossing to Big Brother is only possible for five (5) days during a moon phase. Please contact the author for specific dates.
The tides come in twice a day. And, to complicate things, not at the same time each day! Tides are caused by the moon’s gravitational pull, which is affected by its orbit and so, every day, high tides rise a little later than the previous day.
Apart from the few days that crossing over the channel to the Big Island (Big Brother) is possible, please refrain from doing so. It can be dangerous and costly, even traumatic, not to mention embarrassing, to order a helicopter or boat rescue.
As a rule, it is safe to embark on a Parrsboro area beach excursion/tour three hours before and two hours after low tide. It becomes increasingly unsafe to explore the ocean floor/tidal beaches less than three full hours before high tide. Unpredictable “pinch points” quickly cut off individuals and groups. Most cliffs are too unstable and steep to be considered a reliable escape route.
Please also remember: Predicted tide times are merely an estimation. Weather conditions, atmospheric pressures, tidal action caused further from shore than the eye can detect and multiple other unpredictable factors play their roles. Just think about how often the weather predictions have been inaccurate. Tidal predictions need to be viewed with the same skepticism.
And if you have been tempted to swim out into the incoming tide, don’t! The beaches along the Upper Bay of Fundy are mostly rocky. Large, heavy pebbles are continually shifted by the tides. Imagine yourself getting caught in a current that can move as fast as 15 – 20 km (10 – 13 miles) / hour with large rocks getting pulled along. There is no protection! If swimming is still your goal, select a shallow, sandy beach that warms the water as the tide moves in and don’t walk too far from shore. I suggest Glooscap Municipal Campground Beach about 6 km (4 miles) from Parrsboro’s centre as a good venue.
Here is the Meeting of the Waters video from August 6th, 2023. Within 30 seconds the water rose from the soles of my feet to my knee caps and within 45 seconds it had reached 20 cm (8”) above my knees:
Tide Rollers & Mudlarkers... 