The leaf-like blades sometimes have small attached air sacs which allow the blades to float to the surface facilitating photosynthesis. Because of the changing nature of the tidepools, some areas get more water and others get more exposure to the air. During an ordinary low tide, the splash zone, high zone and part of the mid zone are exposed and accessible for exploration. Only during the spring and neap tides is the low zone exposed. During full and new moons, there are often very low tides which offer an excellent glimpse into this fascinating habitat.
Some animals survive best exposed to the air, with only an occasional splash.
In the splash zone, for example, animals find most of their food in the driest part of the tidepool. There are only a few species that live in this area. The next zone is the high zone, or supralittoral fringe. This is the upper limit the water reaches during high tide. Most of the plants and animals here need a minimum of exposure to water.