Cowichan Bay tides today
- Tide now 11.2 ft ↓ falling · low 1:30 am (0.8 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:20–7:00 pm good day · 7/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 0.2 ft · 53 °F calm (rippled) · 1.8 s from the southeast
- Wind · air 3 mph · 48 °F from the NNW, gusts 4 · light drizzle
- Sun 7:55 am–6:01 pm 10 h 5 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:16 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:16 pm
- Diving tomorrow 1:00–4:00 pm great day · 10/10
- Strong wind warning · Strait of Georgia - north of Nanaimo, south of Nanaimo: winds of 20 to 33 knots at sea. Until further notice. Environment Canada
Today in Cowichan Bay there are high tides at 8:23 am (12.3 ft) and 6:00 pm (11.2 ft) and low tides at 12:44 am and 1:19 pm. Tide coefficient 88. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 1:30 am. The sun rises at 7:55 am and sets at 6:01 pm: 10 h 5 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:16 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:58 am to 3:58 am and from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is calm (rippled), with 0.2 ft waves. There's a light air from the north-northwest (3 mph). Light drizzle, 48 °F.
Fishing in Cowichan Bay today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 8:23 am, coefficient 88
- Sunrise at 7:55 am
- Falling pressure (−0.09 inHg in 24 h), almost no wind and calm sea (0.1 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 88 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 7:20 am to 8:40 am, combines the 8:23 am high tide, sunrise and falling pressure. Also worth a try from 5:20 pm to 7:00 pm, with the 6:00 pm high tide, moonrise and sunset, though with rising pressure. Also good from 12:00 am to 1:40 am, with the 12:44 am low tide and falling pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: coho salmon, Chinook salmon, lingcod and market squid. What you can catch
Beach day in Cowichan Bay
Is it a beach day?
- Offshore breeze (4 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 0.1 ft waves
- Low tide at 1:19 pm: more sand
- Cloudy (76% cloud cover)
- Feels like 49 °F: chilly for the beach
- Water at 53 °F (very cold)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 0.1 ft
0.1 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 53 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 4 mph
Offshore breeze (4 mph).
- Tide & sand 12:44 am
Low tide at 12:44 am and 1:19 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 8:23 am and 6:00 pm.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Cowichan Bay
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Musgrave Landing Beach 3.3 mi · E
- Burgoyne Bay Beach 6.0 mi · NE
- Parking
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Cowichan Bay
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Cowichan Bay
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 12:44 am 0.9 ft
- ▲ High tide 8:23 am 12.3 ft · coef. 88
- ▼ Low tide 1:19 pm 9.5 ft
- ▲ High tide 6:00 pm 11.2 ft · coef. 87
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 7 h 13 min to low tide at 1:30 am.
Tide coefficient 88 for the 8:23 am high tide and 87 for the 6:00 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 11.4 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on January 4 (14.3 ft) and the lowest, on June 15 (-0.4 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above lower low water, large tide (LLWLT), the zero of Canadian charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. LLWLT
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 28 (coefficient 90, 11.4 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 19 (coefficient 39, 8.0 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 7:55 am · 6:01 pm | Low tide 12:44 am · 0.9 ft | High tide 8:23 am · 12.3 ft | Low tide 1:19 pm · 9.5 ft | High tide 6:00 pm · 11.2 ft | Coef. 88 | 91% | Major periods 1:58 am · 2:30 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:57 am · 5:59 pm | Low tide 1:30 am · 0.8 ft | High tide 9:21 am · 12.4 ft | Low tide 2:18 pm · 9.9 ft | High tide 6:39 pm · 11.1 ft | Coef. 83 | 83% | Major periods 3:02 am · 3:34 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:58 am · 5:57 pm | Low tide 2:21 am · 1.1 ft | High tide 10:24 am · 12.4 ft | Low tide 3:30 pm · 10.1 ft | High tide 7:25 pm · 10.8 ft | Coef. 75 | 73% | Major periods 4:06 am · 4:38 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 8:00 am · 5:56 pm | Low tide 3:17 am · 1.7 ft | High tide 11:29 am · 12.3 ft | Low tide 5:15 pm · 9.8 ft | High tide 8:21 pm · 10.2 ft | Coef. 67 | 62% | Major periods 5:08 am · 5:37 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 8:01 am · 5:54 pm | Low tide 4:17 am · 2.3 ft | High tide 12:29 pm · 12.2 ft | Low tide 7:02 pm · 9.1 ft | High tide 9:40 pm · 9.3 ft | Coef. 62 | Last quarter | Major periods 6:05 am · 6:32 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 8:03 am · 5:52 pm | Low tide 5:20 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 1:19 pm · 12.1 ft | Low tide 8:07 pm · 7.9 ft | High tide 11:37 pm · 8.6 ft | Coef. 62 | 40% | Major periods 6:58 am · 7:22 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 8:05 am · 5:51 pm | Low tide 6:24 am · 4.1 ft | High tide 2:00 pm · 12.0 ft | Low tide 8:50 pm · 6.6 ft | — | Coef. 64 | 29% | Major periods 7:46 am · 8:09 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above LLWLT. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Cowichan Bay has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Maple Bay (TICON-4), 6.0 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database). Source: Hart-Davis, M., Dettmering, D., Seitz, F. (2025), TICON-4: TIdal CONstants based on GESLA-4 sea-level records, SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.17882/109129. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Modified: see https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database#modifications-to-source-data
The sea at Cowichan Bay
Sea stateSea state: calm (rippled)
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.1 ft
- Significant0.2 ft
- Highest expectedHighest0.4 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 0.4 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 0.4 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-onshore wind. The coast faces northeast and the wind comes in from the sea at an angle: a bit more surf at the shore and drift along the coast, toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Thursday 29: 1.0 ft with a period of 3 s, from the east (smooth).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water cools over the next few days: about 52.3 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+2.9 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 6:17 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 46088, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Diving in Cowichan Bay today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around low tide (1:19 pm): little current from 12:40 pm to 2:00 pm
- 0.1 ft swell at 2 s from the east-southeast: barely any surge
- Almost no wind
- 0.2 mph current toward the north, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 12:44 am (12:29–1:00 am), high tide 8:23 am (8:00–8:50 am), low tide 1:19 pm (12:40–2:00 pm) and high tide 6:00 pm (5:10–6:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. The sea has been calm and there's been little rain. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 53.1 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:33 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 7:16 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 12:10 pm to 3:10 pm, combines slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 8:00 am to 9:10 am, with slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind and weak current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Maple Cove Vancouver I BC Fish seen: Citharichthys stigmaeus, Hexagrammos stelleri, Rhinogobiops nicholsii, Sebastes auriculatus 5.3 mi
- Satellite Channel Ecological Reserve 6.3 mi
- Pacific Water Sports 4.7 mi
- Patey Rock 5.0 mi
- Wain Rock 6.7 mi
- Arbutus Island 8.5 mi
- Tozier Rock 9.3 mi
- Dyer Rocks 9.8 mi
- Henderson Point 11 mi
- Senanus Island 11 mi
- Little Group Islands 12 mi
- Willis Point 12 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Sites and fish: Reef Life Survey / IMOS NRMN, CC BY 4.0; fish names, Wikidata.
Weather in Cowichan Bay
Now in Cowichan Bay
- Low / high
- 38 / 53 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 30%
- Clouds
- 30%
- Humidity
- 63%
- Dew pointDew point
- 36 °F
- Visibility
- 7.5 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 26
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.02 inHg in 3 hours). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Partly cloudy | Clear | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Light drizzle |
| Temperature | 46° | 44° | 40° | 40° | 51° | 53° | 48° | 45° |
| Wind (mph) | 5 SSE | 2 SSW | 3 NNW | 3 NW | 2 SSE | 4 SW | 3 NW | 2 ESE |
| Gusts | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Waves | 0.4 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.2 ft | 0.1 ft | 0.1 ft | 0.1 ft | 0.1 ft | 0.3 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 6:00 pm 48° 3 NW 0.1 ft
- 9:00 pm 45° 2 ESE 0.3 ft
- 12:00 am 45° 4 SW 0.4 ft
- 3:00 am 43° 4 W 0.5 ft
- 6:00 am 43° 1 NNW 0.7 ft
- 9:00 am 46° 10 SSE 0.8 ft
- 12:00 pm 47° 6 SE 1.0 ft
- 3:00 pm 49° 9 E 0.9 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 38 / 53 °F | 10 mph SSE | 0.5 ft | 8:23 am · 6:00 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 43 / 49 °F | 11 mph ESE | 1.0 ft | 9:21 am · 6:39 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 38 / 48 °F | 6 mph NE | 0.5 ft | 10:24 am · 7:25 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 37 / 50 °F | 4 mph NE | 0.3 ft | 11:29 am · 8:21 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 34 / 51 °F | 4 mph SE | 0.4 ft | 12:29 pm · 9:40 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 37 / 50 °F | 2 mph NE | 0.1 ft | 1:19 pm · 11:37 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 38 / 53 °F | 3 mph N | 0.1 ft | 2:00 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 38 / 53 °F | 2 mph NE | 0.3 ft | 1:50 am · 2:31 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 39 / 52 °F | 2 mph ESE | 0.1 ft | 3:25 am · 2:56 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 41 / 52 °F | 5 mph SSE | 0.3 ft | 4:38 am · 3:16 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 42 / 52 °F | 5 mph SSE | 1.8 ft | 5:37 am · 3:34 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 43 / 55 °F | 6 mph SE | 1.6 ft | 6:26 am · 3:52 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 45 / 53 °F | 9 mph ESE | 1.6 ft | 7:09 am · 4:12 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 48 / 55 °F | 4 mph E | 1.0 ft | 7:49 am · 4:34 pm |
- Thu 29 Light rain 43° / 49° 1.0 ft
- Fri 30 Light drizzle 38° / 48° 0.5 ft
- Sat 31 Light drizzle 37° / 50° 0.3 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 34° / 51° 0.4 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 37° / 50° 0.1 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 38° / 53° 0.1 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 38° / 53° 0.3 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (53 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 6:17 pm (local time).
The sun in Cowichan Bay
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:45 am
- Full dark 7:10 pm
- Civil dawn 7:22 am
- Civil dusk 6:33 pm
- Solar noon 12:58 pm (28° high)
- Daylight 10 h 5 min (−3 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:15 pm
- Full dark 7:10 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,351,480 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Cowichan Bay
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 1:58–3:58 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:30–4:30 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:10 am–12:10 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 6:46–7:46 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 1:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 12:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 4:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 7:54 amNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Cowichan Bay
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Stirling Ridge Park Fishing Pier 4.5 mi
- Blaauw Pier 7.4 mi
- Boat ramp 0.5 mi
- Boat ramp 0.5 mi
- Boat ramp 0.7 mi
- Boat ramp 1.2 mi
- Boat ramp 3.3 mi
- Musgrave Landing Estates Marina 3.3 mi
- Arbutus Ridge Marine Facility 4.3 mi
- Maple Bay Marina 4.4 mi
- Cove Yachts 4.6 mi
- Maple Bay Marina Fuel Dock 4.3 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Very shallowVery shallow and flat: even 1.2 mi from shore the water is less than 16 ft deep.
From the shoreline (0.55 mi from Cowichan Bay) out to sea, heading northeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deepnot within 1.2 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 1.2 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 1.2 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 1.2 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Very shallow: the water doesn't reach 16 ft within 1.2 mi. Cast far from the beach, ideally around high tide.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow: the water doesn't reach 33 ft within 1.2 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
Inside bays, estuaries and harbors the bottom changes a lot from spot to spot (channels and shoals): use this only as a rough guide. There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 1.2 mi out.
Source: NOAA U.S. Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 300 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near Cowichan BayTides nearby
- Koksilah3.8 mi
- Duncan5.2 mi
- Maple Bay5.7 mi
- Mill Bay6.5 mi
- Deep Cove7.7 mi
- North Cowichan8.1 mi
- Crofton9.3 mi
- Ardmore9.4 mi
- Ganges9.8 mi
- North Saanich10 mi
Cowichan Bay at a glance
- Town or city of about 2,799 people. Coordinates: 48.734° N, 123.617° W.
- It is 24 mi northwest of Victoria, the main place in British Columbia. The sun rises 2 min later and sets at the same time than in Victoria.
- The nearest tide station, Maple Bay, is 6.0 mi to the north.
- Its coast faces northeast.
Questions about Cowichan BayQuestions
What time is high tide today in Cowichan Bay?
Today in Cowichan Bay there are high tides at 8:23 am (12.3 ft) and 6:00 pm (11.2 ft) and low tides at 12:44 am and 1:19 pm. Tide coefficient 88.
What time is sunset today in Cowichan Bay?
At 6:01 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:33 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Cowichan Bay?
At 7:57 am. First light comes at 6:47 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 12:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:58–3:58 am, Minor 11:10 am–12:10 pm, Major 2:30–4:30 pm, Minor 6:46–7:46 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Cowichan Bay?
Light drizzle, from 38 °F to 53 °F, with a light air from the north-northwest (3 mph) and a 30% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Cowichan Bay?
Calm (rippled) (Douglas 1): 0.2 ft waves with a period of 1.8 s from the southeast. The water is 53.4 °F.
When is the best time to visit Cowichan Bay?
The best time to visit Cowichan Bay is from July to August: highs of 73 °F, about 4 rainy days a month and 8 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Maple Bay station, with constants from TICON-4 (Hart-Davis, Dettmering and Seitz, 2025, SEANOE), licensed CC BY 4.0, via Slackwater database (changes). Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).