Slack Tides

[Factor 7]

Hey, I am new to the site (and diving) and love them both. I got a quick question that i cant find the answer too. A friend and I want to dive a site out here on Long Island, but i am trying to figure out when high slack tide is. High Tide is at 1120 AM. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[chugmeister]

Sorry can't give you any help.

But welcome to the board! I am sure someone will be able to help you.

 

[Sasquatch]

Welcome to SB!

High slack, or flood slack, is a period where water movement is nearly still for a short span of time. That span varies by local conditions, phase of the moon and other local conditions.

Your best bet is to check with your LDS and ask for an orientation on the sites you want to dive.

 

[gcbryan]

Hey, I am new to the site (and diving) and love them both. I got a quick question that i cant find the answer too. A friend and I want to dive a site out here on Long Island, but i am trying to figure out when high slack tide is. High Tide is at 1120 AM. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Go to any fishing suppy store and get one of their local tide/current books for the present year. Maybe you already have one since you know when high tide is for the day in question in your area.

Slack refers to current rather than tides although they are related. There are online sites with this info as well. Slack is referred to as "slack before ebb" and "slack before flood".
Ebb is related to low tide and flood is related to high tide.

I'm not sure if I completely answered your question.

 

[mech]

Not sure about Long Island but make sure you look at the adjustment/correction list and adjust for your location.
Just a little distance will change the time.
If it's close enough you might want to do a recon trip first
Good luck

 

[countryboy]

Here is a link to a NOAA site..

http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/

**Remember** these are "predictions" and are not exact... The time from when Flood stops (slack) to when Ebb starts may not be that great...

For our area, you can also purchase book, I believe it is called Eldridge (sp?) but not sure of the exact name..??

 

[Factor 7]

Thanks for the posts. Been doing research and couldnt find much of what i was looking for. Appreciate the help.

 

[ReneeC]

Slack tide occurs at high or low tides. As the tide approaches a tidal change it begins to slow down. With an approximate 6-hour tidal change period the tidal speed begins to increase speed much like a snowball rolling downhill. At first the ball is just sitting (slack), then it begins to gain momentum, about halfway down the hill it is a max speed (max tide), then it reaches the bottom of the hill and continues rolling slower and slower until it stops (slack tide).

Therefore, the best times to be in the water are just before, at, or just after a high or low tide. Of course, high is the better choice because visibility should be better.

Factors such as prevailing wind or ocean currents, moon cycle and weather events are going to impact so although the tidal current is at "slack" you might still have a current to deal with. To learn more - consider a NAUI Master Diver class. You will learn a great deal about predicting conditions in this class.

 

[ChillyWaters]

Hey, I am new to the site (and diving) and love them both. I got a quick question that i cant find the answer too. A friend and I want to dive a site out here on Long Island, but i am trying to figure out when high slack tide is. High Tide is at 1120 AM. Any help is greatly appreciated.

What you need are current tables! You can probably purchase local current tables at our LDS, or you can find a site similar to:
http://www.dairiki.org/tides/daily.php/rac/2005-08-06

- ChillyWaters

 

[String]

Slack water depends entirely on local position and can vary hugely between close together sites. Without knowing local sea bed and land topography you cant work out the slack time (or even if there is one). Slack water is not always at local high or low water and may not exist at all in certain conditions.

The best bet would be to get a marine chart with tidal diamonds or a tidal stream chart or seek local knowledge.

"long island" is far too rough a position for anyone to answer.