Tide Times in New Aquitaine

New Aquitaine stretches along 970 km of Atlantic coastline, from Charente-Maritime to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It is the longest regional coastline in France, offering exceptional diversity: the fortified islands of Ré and Oléron, the Arcachon basin with its Dune of Pilat, the endless Landes beach, and the Basque coast with its world-famous cliffs and waves.

The tidal range varies from 2 metres on the Basque coast to 6 metres around La Rochelle. The Arcachon basin is unique: this semi-enclosed lagoon empties and fills entirely with each tide, revealing oyster beds and the winding channels of the Leyre delta. The mascaret (tidal bore) that surges up the Gironde and Dordogne rivers is a rare European phenomenon that draws surfers and spectators during equinoctial spring tides.

The four coastal departments — Charente-Maritime, Gironde, Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques — offer varied maritime activities. The region is the European capital of surfing (Biarritz, Hossegor, Lacanau) and wave conditions depend closely on tide times. Oyster farmers, fishers, and sailors consult the tidal coefficients daily to plan their activities.