Tidal Pools of the Western Cape by Serai Dowling

At the boundary between the land and the sea, there is a wonderful magic to be found in rocky shores and sandy beaches. This is the place to be, wether you are seeking peace and quiet or a wild adventure, outdoors along the shoreline never fails to disappoint…

Tidal pools provide a protected haven, for swimmers of all abilities to enjoy the wild Atlantic ocean that pummels our coast. Whatever the weather, there is always a tidal pool, providing safe access to the sea for those who need it.
There is a thing about locals and that is: they know the best spots, and certainly in Cape Town, a lot of the best spots are congregated around our Tidal Pools. This book provides a gateway to visitors and locals that don’t live at the shore, with all the information necessary to access the pools and enjoy them. The Tidal Pools around Cape Town are not only rich treasure stores of ocean treasures, teeming with fascinating ocean life, but they are also stores of history and heritage, places of connection and culture.

1. The first thing to catch your eye in this book is the stunning photography, throughout the book. The author, Serai Dowling, clearly has experience at visiting the best tidal pools for sunrise and sunset, and everything else in between.
2. It has a great introduction, packed with history about tidal pools, and snippets of useful information for Tidal Pool swimmers of all ages and stages… from enthusiastic beginners, to marine scientists, daily dippers and free divers, this book has something for everyone.

3. A lovely chapter on the Marine Life in our local tidal pools, snippets of information about the seaweeds, and shells, tiny animals, birds and even the larger animals that you can spot in our nature reserves.
4. There is a section on the best tidal pools for dipping, picnicking, and… so much more.
5. Each of the listed pools has at least a double page spread: including a quick guide in an information box, describing the exact location and amenities, as well as full colour photographs and a longer description about the history, the location and things to do nearby, if you want to make a day of it.

6. There is a great guide to Tidal Pool Hopping, which is an annual highlight of a day, for many Capetonians. If you haven’t done a tidal pool hop in the Western Cape then now is the time, and this is the book to take with you.
7. There is a useful gear list at the back of the book, as well as a first aid kit, for beach day emergencies.

This guide book is just as fabulous for armchair travellers, who wish they were taking a daily dip, and ocean enthusiasts, who can’t resist “getting in” whatever the weather. This is a lovely book to have at hand, for any adventurous spirit and a great book to leave lying around when folk are looking for an easy and accessible day out in the wilds, exploring.

This book was published by Rockhopper books and is available here.