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From Town Tools. For the current version, visit https://www.towntools.org/dana-point-california-us/tides
Dana Point has no tide station of its own, so these are NOAA's official predictions for San Clemente — the nearest prediction point on this same stretch of open coast, about six miles down from the harbor. Tide times along this coast shift by only a few minutes from beach to beach, so they are a sound guide for the harbor, Doheny, Salt Creek and Strands.
Minus tides are the good low tides
When a low shows a negative height, the water drops below the average lowest tide — the best windows for exploring rocks and pools. Keep clear of the bluff bases, and start back before the tide turns: Capistrano Beach in particular can disappear at high water.
Right now
Coming in
The tide is
water now about 1.9 ft (0.6 m), estimated from the predicted highs and lows
9:57 AM
Next high water
5.9 ft (1.8 m)
4:56 PM
Next low water
0.1 ft (0.0 m)
Today
Time
Tide
Height
3:46 AM
Low water
1.6 ft (0.5 m)
9:57 AM
High water
5.9 ft (1.8 m)
4:56 PM
Low water
0.1 ft (0.0 m)
11:02 PM
High water
3.9 ft (1.2 m)
The week ahead
Day
Time
Tide
Height
Tue, Oct 13
4:07 AM
Low
2.0 ft (0.6 m)
10:22 AM
High
5.7 ft (1.7 m)
5:37 PM
Low
0.3 ft (0.1 m)
11:51 PM
High
3.5 ft (1.1 m)
Wed, Oct 14
4:24 AM
Low
2.4 ft (0.7 m)
10:46 AM
High
5.4 ft (1.6 m)
6:24 PM
Low
0.6 ft (0.2 m)
Thu, Oct 15
12:54 AM
High
3.2 ft (1.0 m)
4:33 AM
Low
2.7 ft (0.8 m)
11:13 AM
High
5.0 ft (1.5 m)
7:22 PM
Low
0.9 ft (0.3 m)
Fri, Oct 16
11:48 AM
High
4.6 ft (1.4 m)
8:42 PM
Low
1.1 ft (0.3 m)
Sat, Oct 17
12:59 PM
High
4.2 ft (1.3 m)
10:15 PM
Low
1.1 ft (0.3 m)
Sun, Oct 18
7:02 AM
High
3.6 ft (1.1 m)
9:28 AM
Low
3.5 ft (1.1 m)
3:11 PM
High
4.1 ft (1.2 m)
Heights are above mean lower low water (MLLW) — roughly the average lowest tide — not above the dock or the sand. Times are local (PDT). Predictions are for San Clemente (NOAA station TWC0419), the nearest official prediction point, about six miles down the coast — Dana Point's times differ by only a few minutes.
Predictions, not measurements
These are astronomical tide predictions. Wind, air pressure and storm surge can push the real water level well above or below them — in bad weather, check the National Weather Service forecast and warnings at weather.gov before trusting a number here. In an emergency on or near the water, call 911, or hail the US Coast Guard on marine VHF channel 16. Inside the harbor, OC Harbor Patrol's non-emergency line is 949-248-2222.
Official predictions for station San Clemente (TWC0419) from NOAA Tides & Currents, National Ocean Service (CO-OPS). Retrieved October 12 at 4:49 AM.