King Tides Return to San Diego — Tide Pools Reveal Octopuses and Starfish as Volunteers Urge Respect

King Tides Bring Rare Glimpse Into San Diego Tide Pools

King tides—amplified this week by the year’s final supermoon—have pushed water levels to unusually high and low extremes along the San Diego coast, exposing tide pools and the creatures that normally live beneath the waves.

Local residents and visitors have flocked to the shore to explore exposed rock pools. Conservation groups, led by Wildcoast, are on-site to educate visitors, protect fragile habitats and encourage responsible observation.

Volunteers Guide Visitors And Protect Wildlife

Wildcoast, an international nonprofit focused on marine conservation, is conducting outreach at popular tide-pooling spots. The group urges beachgoers not to flip rocks, handle animals, or remove shells—actions that can harm organisms and disturb protected habitats.

“It’s the joy of my life to go tide pooling, so I could talk about it all day,” said Lillie Mulligan, Wildcoast’s senior ocean conservation coordinator, noting how rare and educational these exposures can be.

During recent low tides, observers reported several noteworthy sightings, including multiple spot octopuses and a number of starfish. Visitors described the experience as surreal: seeing animals normally visible only to divers right on the shoreline.

Safety And Scientific Opportunities

The National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement for the San Diego County coastline through Friday morning, warning that high tides could top 7 feet and that low tides will fall below zero in places such as La Jolla through Saturday. These conditions raise the risk of minor coastal flooding and require extra caution around cliffs, tide pools and boat ramps.

These extreme tides also offer scientists and citizen volunteers a chance to document coastal life. The Coastal Commission’s California King Tide Project collects photos and observations of unusually high tides to help model future sea levels and track changes in coastal populations and habitats.

“We can then analyze that data and see changes in populations and then help further protect them,” Mulligan said, encouraging visitors to photograph and submit their tide-line images.

Rules And Local Context

California contains 124 protected marine areas, 11 of which are in San Diego County. These zones act as nurseries and critical habitats for many species—making respectful behavior essential.

Visitors are reminded that removing animals, shells, or other natural materials from tide pools in protected marine areas is illegal. Even well-meaning handling or turning over rocks stresses organisms that are already coping with rapid changes between air exposure and immersion.

Organizers note these king tide events occur only a few times a year; if you miss this window, the next similar tides won’t arrive until January. Meanwhile, local volunteers continue outreach to balance public access, conservation and scientific documentation.

How You Can Help:

• Observe without touching—take photos rather than specimens.
• Follow posted rules in protected areas.
• Submit tide photos to the California King Tide Project to support research and planning.