Tides

Traditionally pilots have only booked swimmers onto neap tides. It has now become common practice to head out on a spring tide if the conditions are propitious. Spring tides are on the days inbetween the sets of neap tides.

Dover tidal heights are:

Neaps tides - approximately 5.3 - 6.1 metres HW
Spring tides - approximately 6.1 - 6.8 metres HW

Please be aware tide dates on the CS&PF website may not correspond with individual pilots

Approximate 2026 Tide Dates	Tide
3 to 11 June	Neap
12 to 20 June	Spring
21 to 30 June	Neap
1 to 6 July	Spring
7 to 12 July	Neap
13 to 20 July	Spring
21 to 28 July	Neap
29 July to 5 August	Spring
6 to 10 August	Neap
11 to 18 August	Spring
19 to 26 August	Neap
27 August to 3 September	Spring
4 to 8 September	Neap
9 to 16 September	Spring
17 to 24 September	Neap
25 September to 2 October	Spring
3 to 8 October	Neap
TBC	Spring
TBC	Neap
TBC	Spring

Approximate 2027 Tide Dates	Tide
1 to 3 June	Neap
4 to 10 June	Spring
11 to 19 June	Neap
20 to 22 June	Spring
23 June to 2 July	Neap
3 to 10 July	Spring
11 to 19 July	Neap
20 to 24 July	Spring
25 to 31 July	Neap
1 to 8 August	Spring
9 to 15 August	Neap
16 to 24 August	Spring
25 to 29 August	Neap
30 August to 6 September	Spring
7 to 13 September	Neap
14 to 22 September	Spring
23 to 27 September	Neap
28 September to 5 October	Spring
TBC	Neap
TBC	Spring

09 Oct 2026
6 Hour Assessment Swim
The office has received numerous calls and emails expressing concern that the six-hour assessment swim may increase to eight hours. We can confirm that our rules have not changed and the six-hour assessment swim remains in place. Read more