Tide in the Reef

[specop504]

This is a general discussion, but what are the effects of tide (low/high) changes in the reef? I was sitting around watching TV and then this weird thought popped in my head. In my head, it plays out like this:

Low tide: faster, higher intensity water motion

High tide: longer, lower intensity water motion

Am I thinking about this wrong? Probably wrong terminology, but I think you get the drift.