Anemones are generally found in the middle tide zone in areas that are protected from direct wave action. They need to be covered by water for most of the day so they prefer areas that have calm pools of water and a good supply of water. Another good area is to look for deep cracks in flat areas where the water congregates.
Barnacles are found in most tide zones. Smaller acorn barnacles are found very high up in the splash zone attached to rocks that have some exposure to wave action. They can also be found in the mid tide zone and frequently attached to other animals like mussels and sometimes limpets. Gooseneck barnacles are commonly found in the mid tide zone in areas exposed to high wave action.
Chitons are sometimes difficult to find. They make small impressions in the softer rock and stay there when the tide is out. Look for areas with that have pock marks in the rocks and chitons will frequently be at the bottom. Look in less exposed areas of the tide pool in and around other animals.
Crabs are very mobile. They are usually seen when moving and trying to escape from predators and tide pool visitors. They prefer rough terrains with lots of deep cracks to hide in. The best way to see them is to patiently wait without moving too much in an area where they were first seen and wait for them to come out.
Observing the smaller tide pool fish is a rewarding endeavor. There are two basic types. The sculpins and gobies lie motionless in the bottom of the pools and very difficult to see. They are generally seen as a flash of movement as they find cover. The other small, juvenile fish like the Opaleye and perch can be found in the calmer medium to larger sized pool.
There are many types of limpets. They can be found on the flat exposed areas of rocks were there are lots of space for them to roam around and feed on algae. They are normally found in large open areas but can also be found in the more crowded areas of the tide pool area. Limpets will move around when covered by water and will congregate near edges when exposed by water. Look for edges of rocks and other animals like the boundaries of mussel beds.
Mussels form large, vast beds were thousands of individuals can be found. They like the mid tidal zone with direct exposure to heavy wave action. They prefer areas where there is high flow of water. They are not found high up in the tide zone and rarely found in the lower tide zones. When you find a mussel, it is a good indication you are in the mid tide zone.
Nudibranchs are rare to see in a Tide Pool. The best place to find them is in a calm tide pool with seaweed that provides a food source. The tide pool will be closer to the open ocean and gets a constant supply of sea water. The good news is they are brightly colored and easy to spot in darker corners of a tide pool. The most common in California to see is the Hopkins Rose that is bright pink and can be found on the red algae.
Sea hares are not very common in tide pools. Some days you can see a dozen and then nothing for a few months. They are found in flat area in the bottom of calm tide pools that have lots of algae for them to feed on. They are very well camouflaged and look like a slowly moving brown rock. When exposed, they will compress themselves into a ball and look like a gelatinous mass.
Sea Stars are what make people go to the tide pools. The most common sea start to see is the Ochre Sea Star. They come in a variety of colors but mainly orange, purple and brown. They are almost always found near mussels and typically found at the edge of a mussel bed or in shallow depressions in mussel beds. It is common to see large groups of 30-40 individuals in a small area.
Snails are pretty easy to see. They can be found in all zones of the tide pool near the edges of rocks and other animals. They like the calmer tide pools in the mid tide zone and found on the walls, the bottom and other parts of the tide pool. Keep a sharp eye out for the snail that appears to be moving faster than you would expect as this is probably a hermit crab that is using a snails shell for protection.
Urchins can be found in larger deeper pools. Urchins like to burrow into the rock to form a shallow impression in the softer rock as they wait for bits of algae to pass by. They do not like direct wave action but need a constant supply of water. They tend to live in the lower tide pool zones.
There are many animals that build tubes. The easiest to spot is the sand castle work and the tube worms. Sand castle worms can be found in the lower tide zone in the surge channels where there is lots of sand. Look at the base of the surge channels close to the ocean in areas not directly exposed to waves but along the sides of the channel. Tube worms can be are found in tide pools with open areas of rock. The best way to find them is to look for curving patterns in a rock that may not look entirely natural.