Tides and Surf micro-lesson

This lesson is about how waves change the tidal changes focusing on mid tide waves. Small to medium-sized waves break meaning we can surf them when the wave height is approximately 1.3 times as high as the water is deep. So, a 1-meter-tall wave breaks when the wave is 1.3 meters above the reef or ocean floor. Reefs always stay at the same depth. The thing that changes is the tide and the waves that come with them. Next, let's take a look at the example of a high tide wave. When there's a high tide, this means that the wave goes over the reef at about 3 to 5 meters, so the wave does not break. It's too hard to surf. When there's a low tide, maybe the reef is too shallow. And at a very, very low tide, maybe the waves are breaking but only very, very small waves and if you surf it, you are too close to the reef to surf safely. At mid tide, this is the sweet spot where there's enough water moving over the reef to make it fun, surfable waves. So surfers surf a 1 meter wave when it's 1.3 meters above the reef.