Exploring Point Holmes tide pools in July

By Keith and Heather Nicol

    We like to head down to the Point Holmes shoreline of Comox when there is a very  low tide since it is one of the few places we know of in the local area that has small tide pools and exposed bedrock which can hide sea stars and other organisms. We took in very low tide for May and June so we were looking forward to seeing what July 5 would reveal. The tide at 12:41 pm was just 0.4 meters and the weather sunny and warm so it was a great day to check out the tide pools.

A midshipman fish still guarding its eggs

      For those people not familiar with this area it is to the right of the boat launch and there is parking for a number of cars just off of Lazo Road. Because of the large tides in this area the tide pools are 200-300 meters from the parking area and footing can be tricky especially near the rocky outcrops. We wore hiking shoes but some people we saw were wearing rubber boots. Flip flops or similar sandals are not recommended given the slippery, seed weed covered rocks. 

We saw an orange orche sea star along with the more common purple ones

  And we weren’t disappointed. Under a rock we saw were surprised to see a midshipman fish still guarding eggs that likely were deposited in May. If you do move rocks take care to put them back exactly as you have found them. We saw many ochre sea stars clinging to the underside of clefts in the rock and in the tidal pools including one collection with purple and orange sea stars. You don’t tend to see many orange ones so we counted ourselves lucky to photograph one this time. We also saw a pacific blood star which is one we have never seen on our low tide visits at Pt Holmes. We also managed to see 3 leather sea stars which does feel like wet leather. So check this place out if you like exploring nature in the Comox Valley. Bring your camera and binoculars since you don’t know what you might see.  Also a kneeling pad helps protect your knees if you want to see what is under clefts in rocks.  August 2 is the next monthly low tide and the tide is 0.6 meters.  See you there. 

A delicate Pacific Blood Star