Singapore's 193-kilometre coastline is marked by a range of habitats – sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. And about twice a month, the water recedes far into the sea during low spring tide, exposing a swathe of land rich with marine life that we'd normally have to snorkel or dive to see. The next time you're tired of urban trekking or forest hikes, plan to visit one of Singapore's many intertidal zones to get a glimpse of life under the waves. Our only advice? Go with an experienced guide and tread lightly. Here's all you need to know about intertidal walking in Singapore.
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The intertidal zone is the region along the marine shore that's exposed at low tide and underwater at high tide. In Singapore, our intertidal zones are composed of rocky beaches, sandy shores and seagrass. These habitats are home to a stunning variety of marine creatures that are specially adapted to the regular changes in the environment that come with changing tides.
Most guided intertidal walks are carried out during the low spring tide. This occurs during the new moon or full moon when it's lined up with the sun, producing an extra gravitational force that causes super low and super high tides. To get the most out of your intertidal walk, you'll also want to visit at the outgoing tide when the water is clearest and the intertidal zone is just coming up for air. Singapore experiences two high tides and two low tides every day. To plan your walk, check online hourly tide tables on Raffles Marina, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, or NParks.
It's important to be aware of how much time you've spent in the intertidal zone – it can be dangerous to get caught on the flat when the tide is changing, particularly during the low spring tide when the window is shorter and the tide is stronger. We suggest going with an experienced guide to avoid the risk. For that, check out our list of guided walks further below.
There's no question that you're going to get your feet wet. After all, you're tramping around on sand and rocks that are submerged underwater for the majority of the day. A pair of wet shoes will also protect your feet from sharp rocks, shells and marine life. If you don't already own booties, get an affordable pair from Decathlon for as low as $8.
The most exciting thing about intertidal walks is spotting and identifying all sorts of weird and wonderful sea creatures. If you're going without an experienced guide to explain to you what you're seeing, an identification chart will be useful. Before you go, brush up on your knowledge of marine life online, or have the Wild Factsheet handy while you're poking around at the intertidal zone.
If you're going during a low spring tide, it's likely that you'll be doing your intertidal walk in the wee hours of the morning or after sunset. A flashlight, even the one on your phone, will be absolutely handy to spot little marine critters in the sand.
Goes without saying that you'll want to take photographs of the giant clams, sponges, sea stars, and many more species you're likely to spot on your trip. Tuck your smartphone into some clear waterproof covering or bring along a sturdy camera.
Rustic and family-friendly Changi Beach Park is a popular destination for intertidal walks. Long stretches of sandy shore come exposed during super low tides, offering up an abundance of marine life to explore. Expect to see sea cucumbers, flower crabs, colourful anemones and a variety of sea stars in this intertidal zone. Look out for the Tiger sea anemone (a large banded anemone with a red-spotted body) – other than Chek Jawa, it can only be found on Changi's shores.
Book a guided tour with Young Nautilus, Lee Kong Chian History Museum and Untamed Paths.
Whisk yourself to the south-eastern end of Ubin for the islet’s main attraction: Chek Jawa. The wetlands and their rich ecosystem are best seen during low tide. Stroll down the kilometre-long boardwalk and keep your eyes peeled for colourful sea critters such as the peacock anemone and biscuit sea star. For an up-close encounter, sign up for a guided walk with NParks ($60) – these tours are wildly popular, so do book early to avoid disappointment.
Book a guided tour with NParks.
Getting to Coney Island by itself is quite the adventure – but there's more to be had at the park's intertidal zone. Put your wet shoes on and venture out onto the flats, where you'll find interesting fauna like horseshoe crabs, leaf potter crabs, onch slugs, species of sea stars and much more. Afterwards, it's easy to hop on a bike to explore the rest of this charming island.
Book a guided tour with Young Nautilus and Untamed Paths.
Part of the Southern Ridges, the park contains the only rocky sea cliff in Singapore, and offers a panoramic view of the sea and cliff-side vegetation. This intertidal zone hides hermit crabs, hairy crabs, sea snails and other critters in its crevices. We suggest admiring it from the safety of the boardwalk, but Labrador Nature Reserve's intertidal zone is nevertheless worth the visit for its uniquely rocky landscape.
Despite being in a high traffic zone, the Southern islands of Singapore are known to be teeming with marine life. St. John's Island, the base of the Tropical Marine Science Institute, has pockets of coral reef as well as a stunning intertidal zone. Visit during super low tide to catch tiny flower crabs, pearly white coral, colourful anemone and other fascinating creatures on the flats. To explore the rest of the island in-depth, download NPark's DIY e-guide.
Book a guided tour with Lee Kong Chian History Museum and Untamed Paths.
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