During the new moon phase of the month, I notice that the sea tides are lower than usual for a few days. The lows become super low, by comparison. Here on the Keurbooms lagoon I was able to capture some photos of the curious effect on the water levels. The lagoon is at the beach and runs out to sea at the mouth, so the sea and the lagoon are directly connected.
This is an awesome region for water sports like kayaking or canoeing. And the lagoon is the final delta for the twin rivers that run downstream to this lagoon. The two rivers Keurbooms and Bitou, both flow into this lagoon, which then finally exits into the Indian ocean. And there is just a thin slither of beach dune that separates the lagoon from the sea.
During the ocean tides, sea water actually pushes up into the lagoon via the mouth, and at low tide lagoon water flows out to sea. So the whole water ecosystem is closely intertwined. When I go kayaking on the lagoon or up river, I can easily see the effect of the tidal flow, whether in or out. By timing the my canoeing with the tide, I can ride the tidal push upstream or downstream. Allowing the flow to push me in my desired direction. I guess that’s what is meant by “go with the flow”.
Nature is cyclic and predictable, based on the regular lunar phases. The tides are affected by the moon as are our human bodies. We may not notice it as much in our bodies, but it’s easily noticeable here at the sea shore and on the lagoon linked to the sea. The effect was highly noticeable when I took these photos recently. The lagoon became very shallow and much of the sand floor was exposed to visibility as the water was washed or pulled out to sea.
Local fishermen like to take advantage of this time to walk out onto the sand floor and forage for snails or other underground life, which they can catch and use as bait on their fishing lines. You can see them with suction pumps which they use to suck up the sand, hoping to find a little shrimp or whatever it is lurking under the sand. The overall affect of the shrunken water level creates a curious flat open and empty landscape of exposed flat sea sand, with the slither of remaining lagoon water reduced to a channel at its deepest point.
The lagoon mouth is shrunken during the low tides but still remains a strong and deep channel, which no one tries to cross on foot. The risk is still there of being pulled out to sea on the current. And there may also be sharks that hunt near the river mouth. I have never seen them, though I do see seals occasionally. The photos show how flat and open the landscape looks when the tide pulls the water out to sea.
The lagoon and beach really makes this town called Plettenberg Bay an attractive holiday resort. Hidden gems of the southern coast of Africa. Tourists are flocking here now with their families to have a holiday by the sea, or by the lagoon. It makes for a great view and a very inspiring picnic spot. Summer has arrived and seaside holiday fun is available for all.
I will wait a bit before launching a kayak now. The lagoon is too shallow and it gets stuck on the sand banks if I try to paddle about. Once the tide comes in, the lagoon will fill up again and make it easier to steer the kayak around the sand banks. Timing my kayaking to fit in with the cyclic tides which are themselves determined by the moon, really smooths the experience and makes it much easier. And timing your holiday visit also helps. Now is the time for fun in the sun, but you will find that by global standards the climate is fine here all year around, so make a visit to this magical holiday destination whenever it suits you. The lagoon will be here for you to enjoy.
(photos my own)