
Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,104 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Right then, let’s take a proper look at Big Bay. This place is exposed to the southwest, so it needs a good solid SW swell to come alive, and it’s fairly consistent when conditions align. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll want a decent wetsuit, mate.
The week kicks off with a nice pulse of swell. Tuesday the 7th morning is looking magic – we’ve got a clean 6ft SW groundswell with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy from the north. Combined wave energy is strong at 1368, so there’s plenty of push. This is for the experienced crew, though – it’s solid and powerful. Tuesday afternoon the wind switches to a light cross-onshore, and the swell bumps up to 7ft, but it gets a bit messy.
Wednesday the 8th morning is another standout. Glassy conditions again, with a 7ft SW groundswell and a 13-second period. The energy is pumping hard at 2307. This is proper, clean surf for those who know what they’re doing. Wednesday afternoon the wind goes cross-shore, and the quality drops off.
Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th see the swell building even bigger – 8ft to 10ft, all from the SSW, with periods around 13-14 seconds. The energy readings are through the roof, hitting 2775 and 2662. This is big, meaty stuff – only for experts. The wind stays cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but the size and power are intimidating.
Saturday the 11th is the real highlight for the first week. Saturday morning you’ve got a 6ft SSW swell with a glassy offshore wind from the ESE – that’s a dream combo. The energy is still solid at 1458, but the wave size is more manageable. Saturday afternoon stays clean with a 7ft S swell, but the wind is cross-offshore. Still, the morning session is where it’s at.
By Sunday the 12th, the swell is dropping fast – 5ft in the morning with clean offshore wind, but the energy is down to 613. It’s still fun for intermediates, but the magic is fading. Sunday afternoon gets small and cross-shore, and from Monday the 13th through to Wednesday the 15th, we hit a proper flat spell. Tiny waves, onshore winds, and even a 22 mph cross-onshore on the 15th – don’t bother.
Now, looking further ahead, there’s a promising window around Thursday the 16th, but the wind is straight onshore from the WNW with a 8ft WSW swell – that’s ugly, blown-out conditions. Skip it.
The real action returns on Sunday the 19th. Sunday morning you’ve got 6ft WSW groundswell with a 14-second period, glassy conditions, and energy at 2332. Then Sunday afternoon – this is the absolute standout of the whole outlook. A clean 10ft WSW groundswell, 14-second period, glassy calm wind, and massive energy at 3752. This is a true, deep groundswell for the experts, and it’ll be breaking perfectly if it hits the reefs and points right. Crowds are likely at Big Bay, so get in early. Long period swells like this can be a bit straight at beach breaks, but Big Bay is exposed and can handle it.
Monday the 20th holds some size but with cross-shore wind, and by Tuesday the 21st the swell fades again. The second week has fewer standout moments, but that Sunday the 19th afternoon is the one to circle on the calendar – just keep in mind it’s a long-range call, so it’s promising but not locked in yet.
Stay stoked, and keep an eye on that Sunday.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1065 | 1429 | 1942 | 1535 | 1305 | 2919 | 2775 | 2545 | 2713 | 2627 | 2611 | 1412 | 1062 | 1369 | 679 | 423 | 333 | 209 | 122 | 80 | 65 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:20PM1.31m | 9:01AM1.10m | 9:26PM1.29m | 10:21AM1.10m | 10:42PM1.29m | 11:40AM1.15m | 11:57PM1.34m | 12:49PM1.25m | 1:03AM1.41m | 1:48PM1.36m | 2:02AM1.49m | 2:40PM1.47m | 2:54AM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:49PM0.41m | 2:50AM0.40m | 2:52PM0.47m | 4:03AM0.39m | 4:12PM0.49m | 5:22AM0.34m | 5:37PM0.45m | 6:34AM0.26m | 6:51PM0.37m | 7:34AM0.17m | 7:53PM0.26m | 8:26AM0.08m | 8:48PM0.17m | ||||||||
7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 |
1065 | 1429 | 1942 | 1535 | 1305 | 2919 | 2775 | 2545 | 2713 | 2627 | 2611 | 1412 | 1062 | 1102 | 679 | 423 | 333 | 209 | 122 | 80 | 65 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | SW 20 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | — | — | — | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | S 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 |
282 | 146 | 188 | 772 | 1039 | 14 | — | — | — | 16 | 51 | 136 | 100 | 172 | 172 | 149 | 112 | 69 | 66 | 41 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 23 | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 9 | SSE 9 | W 11 |
21 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 152 | 12 | 12 | 41 | 36 | 33 | 41 | 26 | 37 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | — | — | — | SSE 5 | S 7 | SSE 7 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 46 | — | — | — | 117 | 181 | 144 | 1369 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 340 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










