Amanzimtoti Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's coming up for Amanzimtoti over the next couple of weeks.

We've got a bit of a mixed bag here. The water's sitting at a pretty normal 71°F for this time of year, so no surprises there. The surf kicks off slow, but there's a couple of real standouts if you're patient.

First up, we're looking at Wednesday afternoon the 15th, but don't get excited – it's a marginal 7ft east swell with a cross-on southerly wind, and the energy's moderate at 876. It's choppy and a bit of a write-off. Not the way you want to start.

Now, Thursday morning the 16th is where it gets interesting. We've got a 5ft east swell, clean as a whistle with glassy conditions – the wind is a light easterly, almost nothing. That's a solid morning for a paddle. The swell energy's moderate (584), and it's a good beginner-friendly size. The break is a beach and reef setup, fairly consistent, and it's exposed to the south, which is the optimum direction. Keep an eye out for crowds though, they can show up sometimes.

Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are a bit of a letdown. Friday's all cross-onshore with small, weak swell (4ft and 4ft) – not worth the drive. Saturday morning cleans up with a light cross-offshore wind and a 3ft east swell, but it's small. Saturday afternoon picks up a bit with a 3ft south swell, 13-second period, and clean conditions. It's a nice little session but nothing to write home about.

Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are blown out. Sunday's got strong cross-onshore winds at 16 mph, making it messy. Monday's a bit cleaner with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is only 3ft.

Now, here's the first big standout. Wednesday morning the 22nd of July. We've got a 7ft south-southwest groundswell, 16-second period – that's a very long period, so it's packing some serious energy (2147, which is strong). The wind is glassy, dead calm. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but at 7ft it's pushing into expert territory. The long period means it'll be better on the reef sections, with long, clean lines. This is the one to circle on your calendar.

The next day, Thursday the 23rd of July, is huge. An 12ft south-southwest swell with a 15-second period, and the energy's massive at 5733. That's a proper big-wave day. The wind is cross-shore, light, so it's ridable, but this is strictly for experts only. An 12ft swell is too big for beginners, and with the long period, it'll be a freight train. If you're not experienced, stay out of the water.

The rest of the week after that is a bit of a mess. Friday the 24th gets hammered by a fresh cross-onshore wind, and the swell drops. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are mixed – Sunday morning the 26th has a glassy 4ft south-southwest swell with a 17-second period, which is excellent for experienced surfers again, but it's a bit of a tease.

Into the second week, things get less reliable. Monday the 27th of July is a write-off with strong cross-onshore winds and a short-period 6ft swell. The rest of the week sees small, marginal surf with mostly cross-onshore winds. Thursday the 30th of July has a 7ft south-southwest swell with a cross-shore breeze, but it's not a standout.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is without a doubt Wednesday morning the 22nd of July – glassy, 7ft, long-period groundswell, and excellent conditions for experienced surfers. If you're after something a bit smaller, Thursday morning the 16th is your pick with 5ft and glassy conditions. The 23rd is for the big-wave crew only. For the rest, it's mostly small or wind-affected, so pick your moments.

Rusty.

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