Piha-The Ditch Water Temperature and Wetsuit Guide

The Piha-The Ditch water temperature is warm (20 °C / 70 °F) and the air temperature not too different (windchill forecast 18 °C / 64 °F). A good quality summer wetsuit would be ideal though a shorty will suffice.

Map of current New Zealand Surface Water Temperatures based on measurements from oceanographic satellites

Map of current New Zealand Sea Water Temperature Anomalies (compared with long term averages at this time of year)

(click thumbnails to expand)

Below is a graph of Historical Sea Surface Temperature for Piha-The Ditch. This has been derived from analysis of two decades of oceanographic satellite measurements of nearby open water. We have calculated the average water temperature variation around the year as well as the extremes that have been observed on each date.

All of the graphs for the surf breaks presented on Surf-Forecast.com are on the same scale to enable comparison between locations around the world.

Piha-The Ditch water temperatures peak in the range 19 to 22°C (66 to 72°F) on around the 9th of February and are at their minimum on about the 24th of August, in the range 13 to 15°C (55 to 59°F). Piha-The Ditch water temperatures are highest in early to mid February. Surfers should use a 2mm long sleeve shorty or a 3/2mm spring wetsuit if the wind is up. The minimum water temperatures at Piha-The Ditch in the fourth week of August are ideally suited to a 4/3mm wetsuit + 3mm boots, although a 5/3mm wetsuit may be preferable for longer sessions and cold windy days.

Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Piha-The Ditch can vary by several degrees compared with these open water averages. This is especially true after heavy rain, close to river mouths or after long periods of strong offshore winds. Offshore winds cause colder deep water to replace surface water that has been warmed by the sun. Air temperature, wind-chill and sunshine should also be considered before deciding on the kind of wetsuit needed to stay warm when surfing at Piha-The Ditch. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.

Latest surface water temperature for the entire globe. Click the image to view a larger version.