Point Holmes is well worth checking out at low tide

 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 locally that has small tide pools and exposed bedrock which can hide sea stars and other organisms. It is also easy to access from the parking area at Point Holmes which is on Lazo Road on the Comox Peninsula. On Monday August 10 low tide was just 0.6 meters  at 10  am so it was ideally timed. We like to get down to this area about 30 minutes before the low tide so that we can do some exploring knowing that the tide won’t start rising for awhile.

 

   We were rewarded with sitings of various sea stars including the purple sea star which can be easily found in this area clinging to clefts in the rock and in the tide pools. We also saw a sea cucumber which was very interesting as it slowly made its way across a tide pool. We don’t usually see these creatures so this was a bonus. We also saw several leather sea star which is another species we don’t many of in this area. If you sit and watch the goings on in a tide pool you can often see hermit crabs that use discarded shells as hiding places.  You know that the shell is being occupied by a hermit crab since all of a sudden the shell starts to move.

                                                       A sea cucumber is a small tide pool 

 

 

 We also saw families in this area exploring the tide pools and it is a great spot to for just about all ages. Be aware that the rocks in this area can be very slippery with sea weed so walk very carefully. I also use a kneeling pad to get down to take pictures of the sea stars and other organisms in the tide pools. The tides will be fairly low over the next few days so check the tide tables and check out Point Holmes.