We'd aim at early morning dives, high tide or low, figuring we'd pick the calmer, less wind-driven waters of most dawns over shallower, supposedly easier diving. Up on the Sonoma Coast, we weren't beach-diving, but were entering and exiting via rocky shores. Thinking about the wave action mattered more, we felt, than thinking about the tidal action. Especially, for exiting the water.
If the tide were in, well, we'd just hold our breath a bit more, kick a bit harder.
And, if the tide were in, later we could point out that we were diving deeper for our abalone. We'd laugh, knowing that we should know those tide tables better, but not really caring.
We were diving deep enough, deeper than some.
We didn't mind laughing at ourselves either.
Of course, if we'd been surfers, we'd have figured out those tables in very short order.
