CORAL EXPOSED: Reader’s extreme low tide pictures prompts interesting discussion around 'moon' influence

TIDE WATCHERS

David Gardiner

Journalist

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While ‘king’ tides from the full moon are visually evident in Douglas, in another part of Qld extreme low tides have exposed interesting sights. All Pictures: Sharon Mitchell

Exposed coral reefs are not something you see every day.

A reader has sent Newsport a set of pictures taken at the time of the fairly rare Super Moon – or ‘Sturgeon’ Moon – that we recently reported on, and its effects on tidal extremes, including king tides.

While here in Douglas we experienced very high, or ‘king’, tides, further south the other extreme was witnessed by coastal populations.

Sharon Mitchell, who lives in Hervey Bay, wrote to us saying, “the opposite seems to be happening here. We have inshore coral reefs that I've never seen exposed as there was a 0.3m low tide yesterday (Aug 2).”

“This was startling to me yet I didn't know if this happens with these types of moon events,” Sharon added. “We often snorkel these reefs on low tide but this was completely exposed.”

Sharon shared a series of photos of the inshore coral reefs with us, and we’re delighted to be able to show you them.

No doubt she and other beachgoers will be keeping an eye out for the next extreme low tides scheduled on the tide tables at the time of the next Blue Moon – August 31. At 2.48pm that day, Urangan at Hervey Bay will see a low of 0.27m, and 0.30m the next day, September 1, at 3.34pm.

Back in Douglas the low tides will be at extremes of 0.06m on the day before the Blue Moon – August 30 – and at 0.08m on August 31 in the mid-afternoons of those dates. King tides here will occur during the nights leading up to the Blue Moon, with a peak of 3.21m on August 30 at 8.58pm.

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