Stroll along almost any local beach during low tide and you’ll see that the shore is alive!

Not only can you discover Puget Sound’s multitude of marine plants and animals—you may also encounter Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists: advocates for the living wonders on our shorelines who are eager to share their knowledge.

The Beach Naturalist program runs on low-tide days throughout the summer and on select winter evenings. The amazing people who operate it are local residents who care about Puget Sound beaches and want to help protect them. More than 200 people have volunteered to help community members learn about and enjoy our shorelines.

Beach naturalists know their beaches: they can help you explore gently to keep animals and their homes safe; tell you what sea stars eat; explain why barnacles stand on their heads; describe how moon snails lay their eggs; and so much more. Scroll down to see our low-tide programming for 2023!

Ask a beach naturalist! Need help identifying something? Email a photo to [email protected] and a beach naturalist will respond to you as soon as we can.

2023 BEACH NATURALIST SCHEDULES

CARKEEK BEACH, CONSTELLATION/RICHEY VIEWPOINT (SOUTH ALKI), GOLDEN GARDENS, LINCOLN BEACH, RICHMOND BEACH, SALTWATER STATE PARK, SEAHURST BEACH

View locations on Google Maps:

- Carkeek Park
- Constellation/Charles Richey Viewpoint (South Alki)
- Golden Gardens Park
- Lincoln Beach
- Richmond Beach
- Saltwater State Park
- Seahurst Park

Date                                    Time                     Low Tide

Saturday, June 3            9:30am-12:30pm    -2.6 at 11:02am
Sunday, June 4              9:30am-1:30pm      -3.3 at 11:42am
Monday, June 5             10:30am-2:30pm    -3.7 at 12:26pm
Tuesday, June 6            11am-3pm              -3.7 at 1:13pm
Wednesday, June 7       12pm-3:30pm         -3.2 at 2:03pm
Friday, June 16             9:30am-12pm         -2.1 at 10:30am
Saturday, June 17        10am-12:30pm        -2.4 at 11:05am
Sunday, June 18          10:30am-1pm          -2.4 at 11:41am
Monday, June 19          11am-1:30pm          -2.2 at 12:18pm
Sunday, July 2              9:30am-12:30pm     -3.2 at 10:38am
Monday, July 3             9:30am-1:30pm        -3.8 at 11:24am
Tuesday, July 4            10am-2pm                 -4.0 at 12:12pm
Wednesday, July 5       11am-3pm                 -3.7 at 1:00pm
Thursday, July 6          11:45am-3:15pm       -3.0 at 1:48pm
Sunday, July 16           9:30am-12pm            -1.8 at 10:47am
Monday, July 17          10am-12:30pm           -1.8 at 11:24am
Tuesday, July 18         11am-1pm                  -1.6 at 12:01pm
Monday, July 31          9:30am-12pm             -3.1 at 10:21am
Tuesday, August 1       9:30am-1pm               -3.5 at 11:09am
Wednesday, August 2  10am-1:30pm              -3.5 at 11:57am
Thursday, August 3     11am-2pm                   -2.9 at 12:44pm

DASH POINT STATE PARK, DES MOINES BEACH, OLYMPIC SCULPTURE PARK BEACH, REDONDO BEACH

View locations on Google Maps:

- Olympic Sculpture Park pocket beach
- Des Moines Beach Park
- Dash Point State Park
- Redondo Beach

Date                                        Time                                Low Tide

Saturday, June 3                    9:30am-12pm                    -2.6 at 11:02am
Sunday, June 4                      9:30am-1pm                      -3.3 at 11:42am
Monday, June 5                     10:30am-2pm                     -3.7 at 12:26pm
Tuesday, June 6                     11am-2:30pm                     -3.7 at 1:13pm
Wednesday, June 7                12pm-3pm                           -3.2 at 2:03pm
Saturday, June 17                  10am-12:30pm                    -2.4 at 11:05am
Sunday, June 18                    10:30am-1pm                      -2.4 at 11:41am
Sunday, July 2                       9:30am-12pm                      -3.2 at 10:38am
Monday, July 3                       9:30am-1pm                        -3.8 at 11:24am
Tuesday, July 4                      10am-1:30pm                       -4.0 at 12:12pm
Wednesday, July 5                  11am-2:30pm                      -3.7 at 1pm
Thursday, July 6                     11:45am-2:45pm                 -3.0 at 1:48pm
Monday, July 31                      9:30am-12pm                     -3.1 at 10:21am
Tuesday, August 1                   9:30am-12:30pm                -3.5 at 11:09am
Wednesday, August 2              10am-1pm                          -3.5 at 11:57am
Thursday, August 3                 11am-2pm                          -2.9 at 12:44pm