Isla Vista Surf Forecast and Surf Reports
(California – Santa Barbara, USA)
Photo credit: ben carroll
Surf Break: Isla Vista
| Name: | Isla Vista |
|---|---|
| Type: | beach and reef |
| Reliability: | fairly consistent |
| Best Swell: W | Offshore Wind: NE |
Isla Vista in Santa Barbara is a fairly exposed beach and reef break that has fairly consistent surf. Winter is the best time of year for surfing here. Works best in offshore winds from the northeast. Waves just as likely from local windswells as from distant groundswells and the best swell direction is from the west. The beach break offers both left and right hand waves. Best around low tide. Often Crowded. Submerged rocks are a hazard.
Overall Isla Vista Surf Consistency and Wind Distribution
IMPORTANT: Beta version feature! Swell heights are open water values from NWW3. There is no attempt to model near-shore effects. Coastal wave heights will generally be less, especially if the break does not have unobstructed exposure to the open ocean.
This image illustrates the range of swells directed at Isla Vista through an average ye... (show all text)
The graph describes how commonly and how strongly the wind blows from different directi... (show all text)
Also see Isla Vista surf quality by season and Isla Vista surf quality by month.
| Contours: | Roads & Rivers: | Select a surf break from the menu |
Use this relief map to navigate to California - Santa Barbara surf breaks and tide stations that are in the area of Isla Vista
Visitor Reviews of Isla Vista |
Other Nearby Surf Breaks closest to Isla Vista:(click location name for more details) |
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| Closest break | Depressions | 1 mi |
| Second closest break | Devereux | 1 mi |
| Third closest break | Pescaderos | 1 mi |
| Fourth closest break | Campus Point | 1 mi |
| Fifth closest break | Sand Beach | 1 mi |
Wave buoys nearest to Isla Vista: |
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| Closest wave buoy | East Santa Barbara Buoy | 11 mi |
| Second closest wave buoy | Santa Barbara Buoy | 35 mi |
| Third closest wave buoy | South Santa Rosa Island Buoy | 54 mi |
| Fourth closest wave buoy | Santa Maria Buoy | 65 mi |
| Fifth closest wave buoy | Santa Monica Basin Buoy | 65 mi |
Tide stations nearest to Isla Vista: |
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| Closest tide station | Santa Barbara, Pacific Ocean, California | 11 mi |
| Second closest tide station | Santa Barbara, Pacific Ocean, California (sub) | 11 mi |
| Third closest tide station | Santa Barbara, California | 11 mi |
| Fourth closest tide station | Santa Barbara, California (2) | 11 mi |
| Fifth closest tide station | Gaviota, California | 21 mi |
Ski Resorts closest to Isla Vista: |
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| Closest ski area | Alta Sierra at Shirley Meadows (United States) | 116 mi |
| Second closest ski area | Mt Baldy (United States) | 124 mi |
| Third closest ski area | Sunrise Ski Area (United States) | 124 mi |
| Fourth closest ski area | Mountain High resort (United States) | 125 mi |
| Fifth closest ski area | Snow Valley (United States) | 162 mi |
Town and city forecasts close to Isla Vista: |
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| Closest city location | Isla Vista (United States) | 1 mi |
| Second closest city location | Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (United States) | 2 mi |
| Third closest city location | Goleta (United States) | 3 mi |
| Fourth closest city location | Santa Barbara (United States) | 9 mi |
| Fifth closest city location | Mission Canyon (United States) | 9 mi |
- The closest passenger airport to Isla Vista is Vandenberg Afb (Lompoc) Airport (VBG) in USA, 74 km (46 miles) away (directly).
- The second nearest airport to Isla Vista is Point Mugu Nas Airport (NTD), also in USA, 76 km (47 miles) away.
- Third is Meadows Fld (Bakersfield) Airport (BFL) in USA, 136 km (84 miles) away.
- Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport (BUR) in USA is 140 km (87 miles) away.
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), also in USA is the fifth nearest airport to Isla Vista and is 144 km (89 miles) away.
