Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,158 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period with S 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's shaping up at Big Bay. We got a real mix of conditions coming over the next couple of weeks, but there's some proper gold in there.
Sunday the 12th of July kicks us off with some clean waves. It ain't firing, but a solid 5ft south swell with 11-second intervals is rolling in. The water's running a bit colder than normal for the season, so you'll feel that chill. Got a light offshore breeze from the east in the morning making things look tidy. This spot's fairly consistent, but be ready, because the crowds are usually on it.
Monday the 13th drops down to a smaller 3ft SSW swell, but the wind goes glassy all day - perfect conditions for the log. That glassy trend holds into Tuesday morning on a 3ft west swell.
Now, pay attention. Wednesday the 15th of July morning, the swell climbs to just under 4ft from the southwest, but the period blows out to 17 seconds - that's long period groundswell, so it's got heaps of energy. Glassy conditions again. This is one of the best calls for the first week. Just know that long period stuff can straighten out a bit on a beach break, but the quality is there for the experienced crew.
From Thursday the 16th through Saturday the 18th, we've got a solid run of 7ft to 8ft SW swells. This is expert-only territory. The wind is either glassy or clean cross-offshore. Friday the 17th is a beauty - clean 8ft SSW swell with a gentle cross-off breeze.
There's a quiet patch on Sunday 19th and Monday 20th with smaller 3ft to 3ft swell, but still clean.
Then it gets serious. By Wednesday the 22nd of July morning, we're looking at a massive 12ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period. That morning is absolute magic for experts - clean, offshore breeze. This is a major standout. Wednesday afternoon turns ugly with strong cross-onshore winds, so get in early.
Thursday the 23rd is a complete write-off with rain and strong winds messing up those 8ft to 10ft waves. Friday the 24th cleans up, but the swell is still dangerous at 10ft to 12ft with an extremely long 17-second period. Only the best of the best.
Saturday the 25th of July morning is another unreal window: 8ft SW swell, 16-second period, light offshore wind. Pure quality. But that afternoon and into Sunday, the swell surges to a massive 13ft to 15ft. That's too big for this spot.
We finish on Monday the 27th of July as it drops back to a manageable 8ft SSW groundswell, clean conditions.
To sum it up: for the first week, Wednesday the 15th morning is your hidden gem for quality. For the second week, you absolutely cannot miss Wednesday the 22nd of July morning or Saturday the 25th off July morning - those are the real standouts. The rest is either small and glassy or big and rowdy.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | W 12 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 545 | 337 | 260 | 173 | 132 | 220 | 167 | 156 | 132 | 825 | 3241 | 3752 | 2310 | 1609 | 2073 | 1752 | 1800 | 1694 | 1634 | 1129 | 528 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:48PM1.36m | 2:02AM1.49m | 2:40PM1.47m | 2:54AM1.55m | 3:27PM1.56m | 3:42AM1.56m | 4:12PM1.61m | 4:28AM1.54m | 4:55PM1.63m | 5:12AM1.48m | 5:37PM1.59m | 5:55AM1.39m | 6:19PM1.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:53PM0.26m | 8:26AM0.08m | 8:48PM0.17m | 9:14AM0.02m | 9:38PM0.10m | 9:58AM-0.00m | 10:25PM0.08m | 10:40AM0.01m | 11:11PM0.09m | 11:20AM0.07m | 11:55PM0.15m | 12:00PM0.16m | 00:39AM0.23m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | W 12 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 545 | 337 | 260 | 173 | 132 | 220 | 167 | 156 | 132 | 825 | 3241 | 3752 | 2310 | 1609 | 2073 | 1752 | 1800 | 1694 | 1634 | 1129 | 528 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 112 | 110 | 69 | 66 | 40 | 90 | 25 | 55 | 52 | 104 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 74 | 202 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 11 |
| kJ | 25 | 37 | 33 | 32 | 51 | 45 | 59 | 24 | 108 | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | 56 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
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.
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