Oosterschelde · site 29

Diving at Zuidbout

Current, slack and best dive times at Zuidbout

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Windows for the next 40 hours

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Current at Zuidbout

Over the next forty hours, a peak current of about 41 cm/s is expected here, around 15:20 tomorrow. You're less dependent on the slack here: 70% of the forecast stays below 20 cm/s.

Of the 34 sites in the Tide Planner, Zuidbout sits around the middle of the sites for current strength: the expected peak current here is about 75% of the average of the sites in the planner. That fits its position in the tidal system: in narrow channels and along the main flow the current can be stronger, while it's often weaker in side channels and behind dikes. Read how currents work in the Oosterschelde.

When is the best time to dive?

In terms of current, you can get in the water here at almost any moment. That makes this site suited for a relaxed dive, for photography, or for longer dives that aren't tied to a slack window. Just watch the other things that shape your dive: visibility, wind on the shore, and whether there's still enough water at the entry point at low tide.

Slack at Zuidbout

Slack is the moment the current changes direction, and the flow is briefly at its lowest around that point. In the Oosterschelde there are usually several slack moments per day, around high and low tide; the exact timing varies by location. At Zuidbout that matters less, because the current also stays low between slack periods.

The tidal cycle shifts by a good fifty minutes on average each day, but the slack time at this site isn't a simple copy of the day before. That's why this page shows no fixed time, but today's forecast.

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What matters at this site?

In terms of current, this is an accessible site: the window is rarely the limiting factor here. Visibility, wind direction and the water level at the entry point matter more.

This page covers current and tide. For local details such as entry, depth and parking, check other sources.

Dive plan

Plan your dive, share it with your buddies

Choose site, day and dive window, up to a year ahead. You get a shareable page for your group.

  • Email if the forecast changes
  • Exact times once the dive is within 40 hours
  • Only your email address needed
Beyond the forty hours

Monthly overview, up to a year ahead

Want to plan ahead? See per dive site which days are expected to be favourable for a dive around the slack.

This long-term forecast is based on the expected local current pattern and may therefore differ from traditional tide tables with high and low water (HW/LW).

Tap or click a time with + to turn it into a dive plan. You get a shareable page for your group, with a message if the exact forecast within 40 hours differs.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you need to wait for slack at Zuidbout?

Usually not. The current here stays below 20 cm/s for almost the whole forecast, even between slack periods.

Can I dive here outside of slack too?

Outside the window, the current here runs well above the 20 cm/s you chose.

Where does this current data come from?

From the live current forecast from Rijkswaterstaat, which projects forty hours ahead. Further ahead, the planner uses the recurring tidal pattern to project slacks and windows. That's suited to finding favourable days, but not to predicting exact current timing the way the 40-hour forecast does.

How many slacks are there per day?

Usually several, around high and low tide; the exact timing varies by location. The tidal cycle shifts by a good fifty minutes on average each day, but the slack time at a location is not a simple copy of the day before.

Can the actual current differ from the forecast?

Yes. A current forecast is a model calculation, not a measurement of conditions at that moment. Wind and air pressure can cause the actual current to differ from the forecast; always check the live forecast shortly before your dive.

What does the estimated temperature in the monthly overview mean?

Water temperature is measured at Marollegat, one measuring point for the whole Oosterschelde. For a day in the future, we take the temperature from about a year ago on the same calendar day, and add the difference between today's temperature and last year's on the current date. Right after the 40-hour forecast that difference counts in full; further ahead it fades out gradually, to zero after about a month. It's an estimate based on the seasonal pattern and the current deviation, not a prediction.

Can I plan a dive and share it with my group?

Yes. Click "Plan this dive" on a dive window, or a slack time in the monthly overview. You only enter your email address and get your own page to share with your group. It shows what was planned next to what is expected now, with an alternative time. Anyone following the dive gets a message when the forecast changes, and afterwards a short question about the visibility. No account needed, and email addresses are deleted 30 days after the dive.

Read more
All dive sites
Overview of the Oosterschelde and the Zijpe
Slack in the Oosterschelde
Why the current stalls and for how long
Tide Planner
Windows for all sites side by side
Tides in the Oosterschelde
How the tidal cycle works, and spring and neap tide
Current in the Oosterschelde
What causes the current and why it differs per site

Important

The tide and current forecast is a prediction and may differ from conditions on site. Wind, water level and other conditions can affect the current. Always check the conditions on site and take responsibility for your own dive and safety.

More about the data, sources and accuracy used can be found at About Duiken Centraal.