Guided tide pooling with Turning Tides ME
Connecting people, both local and from away, with Maine’s incredible rocky coast, the critters that live on it, and scientists who study it.
What is guided tide pooling?
Explore Maine’s coast with an insider.
Booking a guided tide pooling session with Turning Tides is getting a crash course in Maine’s marine ecosystem. It’s having an hour to ask a marine biologist anything. It’s an opportunity to learn about discreet marine life you may have never even noticed otherwise.
Guided tide pooling is for people of all ages and backgrounds, and can make for an unforgettable corporate team outing, school field trip, birthday party, or lowkey afternoon with your family and friends.
Meet your tide pool guide
Aubrey Jane
Aubrey has been studying marine and aquatic critters for the past decade. Her research has led her to immortalize blue mussels in microscope slides, analyze Maine lobster to the molecular level, and spend countless hours on the hunt for invasive green crabs. Now she’s excited to take on the role of ‘tide pool guide’, sharing what she’s learned about New England’s intertidal zone with you.
Critters you may meet on the tides
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Green crab
Photo credit: Dr. Markus Frederich
This invasive crustacean is known for wreaking havoc on Maine’s ocean ecosystem, tearing up eel grass beds and decimating clam populations. On the tides, you may have the chance to learn how to tell the difference between a male and female crab, how to tell where a crab is in its molt cycle, and more!
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Maine lobster
These New England icons occasionally grace us with their presence in the tide pools, particularly as juveniles. Having studied these critters for years, Aubrey is well equipped to answer any lobster questions you may have. Ask her how she accidentally turned a lobster purple once. (Her name is Fig and she currently lives at the University of New England).
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Nudibranch
Photo credit: Dr. Emily Lancaster
Nudibranchs are quite small and elusive, but a good spotter can usually find one munching on hydroids and other inverts, like the one pictured here. They breathe out of the gills on their backs and lay large intricate egg masses in tide pools. Test your I-Spy skills on the search for these inverts.