When the offline tides do not cover your area, WorldTides delivers worldwide live tides — with your own API key (BYOK). This guide shows how to create the key, store it securely in NauticCalc and cross-check the station. Overview of the principle: Offline vs live tides.
Prerequisites
- NauticCalc on the iPhone (iOS 17.6+)
- An area the offline tides do not cover (e.g. many North Sea / Mediterranean ports)
- Willingness to create an account with the provider — cost/quota sit with WorldTides; NauticCalc does not sell a tides subscription
Step 1: WorldTides account
- Register on the WorldTides website
- Create an API key in the dashboard
- Check quota and cost with the provider so there is no surprise while under way
Step 2: Note the key safely
Copy the key and keep it safe — do not share it in chats, screenshots or public repos. If it gets lost, simply create a new one with the provider and enter it again.
Step 3: Enter in NauticCalc
- Open the app → Settings (tides / API)
- Paste the WorldTides API key
- Save — the key stays in the iOS keychain, not on NauticCalc servers
Step 4: Test a station
- Choose a harbour or area in Tides
- Compare HW/LW and time windows with an official table or port info
- If it is off: check the station or time zone — the nearest station is not always the most suitable
Common mistakes
- Only noticing at sea that the area has no offline station — set the key up at the berth
- Overlooking the station's time zone and placing HW/LW wrongly
- Using up the provider's quota without noticing
- Sharing the key in a message — then better create a new one
Without a key the core calculators, logbook and offline tides (where stations exist) keep working unchanged — there is no obligation to use a key.
Read next: Reading tides · Tides calculator