The coast changes constantly, which is why the same beach can look completely different on two visits. Tide, wind, and light all shape the scene, and a little planning turns those changes from a problem into the main subject. Start with tide times, not only sunrise and sunset.
Read the tide before you choose a spot
Low tide often reveals rock pools, patterns in wet sand, and foreground rocks that are hidden at high tide. High tide can be better for waves breaking against cliffs or sea walls, but it also reduces safe standing room. Check a local tide table, note whether the tide is rising or falling during your visit, and plan an exit route that stays dry. Wet rocks are slippery, so wear shoes with grip and keep your bag off the ground where waves can reach it. Never turn your back on the sea on an exposed shore.
Use golden hour and wet surfaces
Golden hour, the hour after sunrise and before sunset, gives warm, low light that flatters sand, cliffs, and water. Wet sand and rock pools act like mirrors and can double the colour of the sky, so look down as well as out to sea. A slower shutter speed can smooth moving water into a soft texture, but use a tripod or a stable surface, because handholding a slow exposure will blur the whole scene. Take a dry cloth for sea spray on the lens, and check the front element often. related guide explains how to handle soft morning light in the mountains.
Keep the composition simple
Seascapes work best when one idea leads the photo: a leading line of foam, a single rock, or a curve of beach. Remove distractions by moving a few steps left or right, or by lowering the camera to hide a busy background. Photograph the same spot at different tide heights on separate visits if you can, and compare the results. That comparison teaches you more about a location than a single visit ever will. another guide in this category shows how changing weather can create reflections and colour in city streets.
Before leaving, check the tide again for your walk back, pack wet gear separately, and clean salt spray from the lens and camera body. Salt air can damage equipment over time, so a quick wipe at home is good practice. Keep a note of tide heights and light for each spot you visit, because that record turns a good coastal location into a reliable one you can return to with confidence.