Morecambe recorded their sixth draw of the campaign so far thanks to teenage striker Aaron Taylor, who marked his debut with a fine header two minutes after the restart.
The 18-year-old frontman, who has impressed boss Sammy McIlroy since stepping up from the youth team in the summer, headed home a fine Rene Howe cross two minutes into the second half to spark a Morecambe comeback after a poor first period.
It was Rochdale who started the game the better and they dominated the first half.
Gary Jones and Tom Kennedy both had shots beaten away by Morecambe defenders before the visitors took the lead on 19 minutes through Chris Dagnall.
Kennedy provided the assist with a fine cross to the far post, Joe Thompson headed on and Dagnall bundled home from close range.
The visitors were then denied a quick second when Morecambe keeper Barry Roche made a superb triple save to deny Gary Jones, Lee Thorpe and Adam Rundle in quick succession on 26 minutes.
Morecambe came out strongly at the start of the second period and after Taylor's equaliser enjoyed a period of dominance with Howe seeing a shot well blocked and Henry McStay heading a right-wing corner over the bar.
At the other end, Roche made a fine save from a Kennedy free-kick before tipping over a dipping Adam Le Fondre shot from the edge of the area.