The document summarizes tides, including their causes due to the gravitational interaction between the Earth, Moon and Sun. It describes the stages of a tidal cycle from flood tide to low tide. It distinguishes between spring tides, which occur during full and new moons when gravitational forces align to produce stronger tides, and neap tides during quarter moons when forces are perpendicular and tides are weaker. Rare proxigean spring tides result from a close and aligned positioning of the Moon.