4.2 Signs of tidal flow
In tidal waters, it is important to understand what the tides is doing. With experience, it is possible to perceive tidal flow, perhaps by the ripples that a flow creates, or by the interaction of the tide with wind and swell. In an area of variable tide, the wind will tend to pick out areas where the tide is flowing against it with small waves, whereas regions of opposite flow can appear flat.
Tethered buoys provide one easy way to assess tidal stream.