Calvados and its D-Day beaches experience significant tides with a tidal range of 6 to 8 metres. From the Côte de Nacre (Sword, Juno, Gold Beach) to the Côte Fleurie (Deauville, Trouville, Honfleur), the tides sculpt this historically charged coastline every day. The remains of the Arromanches artificial harbours are fully revealed only at low tide, a moving testimony to 6 June 1944.
The semi-diurnal regime of Calvados makes checking tide times essential for swimming, shore fishing on the Côte de Nacre rocks, and navigation in lock-gated ports like Honfleur and Ouistreham. Tidal currents along the coast can reach 3 knots, making attentive navigation a must.
