Big Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.79° S 18.46° E

Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 17 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Bay sea temperature is
13.5° C
1.9° 

Big Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Big Bay surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 5,808 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Fri 17th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 10s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 23rd Jul)10ft (3.0m) 18s
Most Powerful 2AM (Fri 24th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down. Big Bay is the only game in town for this forecast, and it’s got a good run of swell coming, but you gotta pick your moments. The water is running a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so don’t forget a good wetsuit. The swell is mostly from the southwest, which is exactly what this exposed break wants, and the energy starts off decent but builds fast.

We start Friday afternoon, July 17th, with a 6ft SW swell at 10 seconds, but the wind is cross from the SW at 6 mph, and the conditions are just marginal. Not the best time to paddle out. Wait until Saturday morning, July 18th. That’s a standout. The swell drops to 5ft from the SW, period short at 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy from the NNW at 3 mph. It’s clean, it’s tidy, and the combined energy is a solid 625. This is the kind of morning that makes it all worth it.

Sunday and Monday mornings also have some clean windows with glassy or light wind, but the swell quality is a bit mixed with periods bouncing around 9 to 12 seconds. Monday morning, July 20th, is another glassy session with 4ft SSW swell, period 9 seconds, and energy at 554. It’s not huge, but it’ll be fun and uncrowded if you’re lucky.

Now, the real juice comes Tuesday afternoon, July 21st. We’re looking at 6ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1344. The wind is glassy from the west at 3 mph. That’s a proper groundswell and the waves will have some push. The long period means it’ll be better-shaped, but at a beach break like Big Bay, it might get a bit straight. Still, for experienced surfers, this is excellent.

Wednesday the 22nd gets messy. Light rain, strong cross-onshore winds at 18 mph, and lumpy 8ft swell. That’s a day to stay on the beach or go kiting. The wind is fresh and the conditions are poor.

Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, is a redemption window. The swell drops to 5ft from the WSW, period 12 seconds, but the wind goes glassy from the WNW at 3 mph. The energy is high at 1233, and it’s another excellent session for experienced surfers.

Then comes the big one. Friday, July 24th, is the standout of the whole outlook. Morning and afternoon both see 10ft to 12ft SW swell, period 15 seconds, with clean cross-offshore winds from the SSE at 6 mph. The combined energy is massive – 4046 and then 4618. This is serious groundswell. The long period makes it a proper point-break style wave, but at a beach break, it could be a bit unruly. Only experts should be out there. This is the day to watch.

Saturday the 25th still has plenty of size – 8ft in the morning, 8ft in the afternoon – but the wind picks up to 18 mph from the SSE, making it clean but strong. The energy is still high, but it’s harder to paddle into.

Sunday the 26th is a wild card. The morning has 12ft from the SSE at 10 seconds with a strong offshore at 25 mph. That’s a 6449 energy reading, but it’s going to be incredibly hard to paddle into. The afternoon is better: 7ft SW at 16 seconds, moderate offshore wind, and energy at 4344. Again, for experts only.

The last week of the outlook, from July 27th through August 1st, sees the swell settle down. Morning and afternoon sessions on the 27th and 28th are clean with 5ft to 5ft SW swell, good winds, and moderate energy. The 29th and 30th have smaller waves, around 3ft to 5ft, and the wind starts to get messy again. By the end of July and into August 1st, the conditions turn poor with onshore winds and small, choppy surf. The last few days of the outlook are a write-off.

So, the best on offer is the glassy Saturday morning the 18th for a clean, fun session, and the big Friday the 24th for the big-wave crew. The Tuesday afternoon the 21st and Thursday afternoon the 23rd are also excellent for experienced surfers. There’s a solid week of good surf here, and then a gap of poor conditions from July 31st onward.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the NW by Wed afternoon).

Fri
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
1
2
3
4
3
0
1
3
2
4
6
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
SW
10
1.4
SW
10
1.4
SW
9
1
SW
13
1.4
SW
12
1.4
SW
12
1.5
SW
11
1.7
SW
11
1.3
SSW
9
0.9
SW
10
0.7
SW
16
1.2
SW
14
1.9
SW
14
2.3
SW
14
2.3
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
2.4
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
1.6
WSW
12
3
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
623
377
307
310
574
555
524
664
258
177
251
540
1319
1884
1756
1764
1495
1142
658
5808
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
5
ESE
5
NNW
5
W
5
NNW
10
NW
5
SW
5
SE
5
SE
10
SSW
5
ESE
5
NNW
5
W
15
N
30
NNW
20
WNW
10
NNE
10
NNW
5
WNW
5
SE
Wind State
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
5:37PM1.59m
5:55AM1.39m
6:19PM1.52m
6:38AM1.28m
7:01PM1.42m
7:23AM1.17m
7:45PM1.31m
8:15AM1.07m
8:37PM1.19m
9:22AM1.00m
9:43PM1.11m
10:48AM0.98m
11:05PM1.08m
Low Tide
11:55PM0.15m
12:00PM0.16m
00:39AM0.23m
12:39PM0.27m
1:24AM0.33m
1:21PM0.39m
2:14AM0.43m
2:09PM0.51m
3:14AM0.51m
3:14PM0.60m
4:34AM0.55m
4:48PM0.64m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:47
7:47
7:46
7:46
7:45
7:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:55
5:57
5:57
5:58
5:59
5:59
6:00
 mm
2
3
Temp °C
17
16
16
17
16
15
16
15
15
17
14
16
18
15
14
15
15
14
15
14
Feels °C
17
16
16
16
16
14
15
14
14
16
12
15
16
14
9
9
13
12
13
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Big Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Big Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Big Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Big Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Big Bay is 8 km (5 miles) from the very large city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.

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