Frequently Asked Questions
This page contains answers to the most commn queries about the website and the services provided. More answer are added as people get in touch with new questions, so please check here first before contacting us.
What are the numbers in brackets after each tide time?
These are the predicted water heights for each tide. For example "(5.3m)" would mean 5.3 metres over Chart Datum. Chart Datum is the lowest anticipated water level for the whole of the UK and so does not necessarily mean a 5.3m change in water height in this example. For an in-depth explanation of "Chart Datum", click here.
What are the advantages of becoming a member?
Currently members can select favourite locations to appear in the left menu every time they log into the site, as well as view any past orders they may have placed. Further members-only advantages may be added in future.
Why don't you have tide times for [location]?
The tidal prediction data comes from the UK Hydrographic Office who only supply prediction data for a number of locations in the UK but not the software or algorythms to calculate predictions for other areas. While other prediction data is available, permission to reproduce the data on the TideTimes website is generally not.
Why are the predictions only for seven days?
The UKHO offers a range of licensing agreements including a free tier that provides 7-day predictions at no cost. A paid service is available which we offer via website subscriptions, extending the range from 7 days to 365 (assuming the tides are in the database) for any of the featured locations.
Why do your times differ from those on [website]?
Different websites may use different tide prediction data. In addition, some websites do not adjust the times for British Summer Time and so those sites will differ by an hour during the summer, even if they used the same UKHO data.
Why are printed tide books not available for all locations?
For some locations we are only supplied with complete High Tide data. These locations are not suitable for the printed format.
Why do some days have five tides and others only three?
The tidal period is just over 24 hours long, roughly one tide (high or low) every six-and-a-bit hours. If the first high or low tide in a calendar day occurrs close to 6am then the third one thereafter will be slightly over 18 hours away, making it just after midnight and so into the next day.
This is more likely to happen when the clocks go forward in March as there's one less hour in the day at the start of British Summer Time. By the same token, there's an extra hour in the day when the clocks go back at the end of BST in October and so it's possible to squeeze five tides into this 25-hour day.
Is there a discount for ordering a large quantity of books?
We are able to offer substantial discounts on orders of 50-500 books which includes customisation of the outer cover. This is a popular option for marinas, fishing and sailing clubs and coastal holiday destinations from cottages to hotels. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
How can I advertise on your site?
All ads on the TideTimes website are served through Google AdSense. This means that you can target this site and even specific pages on it from your Google AdWords account. See the following link for further information:
http://support.google.com/adwords/bin/answer.py?answer=2470108
No other advertising options are currently available for this site.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Generally speaking, UK delivery takes 3-4 days. As a minimum, orders are despatched at least once every weekday with weekend orders posted first thing Monday morning. If you have not received your order within 14 days (21 over Christmas/New Year), please get in touch.
How can I check my order progress?
Log in to your account and click on 'My Purchases'. From there you can view the status of all current and previous orders. You can also download any PDF versions and manage the synchronisation of any TidePoint data files.
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