Tidal Zone

A child looking at fish through the underwater windows at National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

Descend below sea level in the Tidal Zone and glimpse an underwater view of Falmouth Harbour through two large windows.

If you stand here long enough, you’ll see the tide rise and fall. You never know what you’ll find swimming through the water or climbing along the other side of the glass. Take a close look and you might spot a cormorant diving after a fish, crabs, shrimps, and maybe even a seal.

Here, you can learn about the effects of the moon and sun on the tides, and how they are caused. Interactive displays also introduce some of the animals and plants that live in the estuary, which is a Special Conservation Area, home to a wide diversity of species.

Featured Tidal Zone Installations

Experience powerful installations that confront the issue of marine plastic pollution and its impact on our oceans and coastal communities.‘Whale in the Room’ by Andre Kong Studio is a striking installation featuring 380 kilograms of marine debris retrieved from Cornish waters by Clean Ocean Sailing.

The ‘Bottle Top Chain’ by Cornwall Climate Care is part of a remarkable chain created from over 65,000 bottle tops collected by volunteers from Cornish beaches. Find out more about these installations in the Tidal Zone here.

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