Which statement defines slack water?

• A. Large tidal range at new/full moon
• B. Time when current changes direction
• C. All depths referenced consistently
• D. Water moving seaward, choppy

Answer: (B)

Slack water is the brief period at the turn of the tide when the horizontal current is nearly at a standstill and about to reverse direction. It happens as the flood current slows to nearly zero and then becomes an ebb, or vice versa. The key idea is that water movement is minimal for a moment, so the current isn’t carrying you in either direction. This matters for paddlers because it’s when navigation is most predictable and the water is least affected by strong flows.

The other statements describe different concepts: a large tidal range at new or full moon refers to spring tides; saying all depths are referenced consistently is about charting references rather than current flow; and water moving seaward with chop implies active current and wind, not slack water.