
Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 6,251 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s 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 24) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 15s period. 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 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, dialling in from the local stretch, and we’ve got a solid run of south-west groundswell lining up. The star of the show is Big Bay. It’s an exposed, fairly consistent intermediate spot that’s going to be holding size for a good stretch. The water’s sitting at 57.2°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a step up in rubber.
The first sniff of real action hits Friday, 24 July, with a glassy morning. A 11.5ft south-west swell, period 14 seconds, and the combined energy is pumping at 4362. That’s a big, powerful swell – too much for beginners, but for experienced surfers it’s looking excellent. The morning is glassy with a light ESE breeze, so it’ll be clean. The afternoon is a cross-shore, but it’s still a solid 9.8ft, so plenty of juice.
Saturday, 25 July, the swell drops to 6.9ft in the morning with offshore SE wind, pushing clean lines. The afternoon picks up a touch to 7.5ft, still clean. Sunday, 26 July, is back to glassy conditions in the morning with 6.9ft, and the afternoon holds clean with a cross-off breeze. Good, solid, consistent surf.
Now, Monday, 27 July, the period jumps to 16 seconds – a real long-period groundswell, 8.2ft in the morning. The energy is 3222, but the wind is a moderate cross-off at 15.5 mph, so it’s clean but a bit lumpy. The afternoon gets a strong breeze at 25 mph, still cross-off, but that’s getting windy. The long period makes this swell better suited to the point setup at Big Bay – it’ll hold shape here, but the beachies might turn a bit straight.
The standout run really kicks in from Tuesday, 28 July. Morning offshore SSE wind at 12.4 mph, 8.2ft swell, 15 seconds, energy at 3138. The afternoon is even better: gentle offshore ESE breeze at 9.3 mph, 8.2ft, 14 seconds, energy 3020. Both sessions are excellent for experienced surfers. That’s your pick of the week.
Wednesday, 29 July, is still good with a 5.6ft, 13-second swell and offshore wind. Thursday, 30 July, the swell fades to 4.3ft and the winds turn cross-shore, so it’s only small and a bit messy.
Then Friday, 31 July brings another pulse – a 6.9ft, 16-second groundswell in the morning, light cross-off wind, energy 3000, and excellent conditions. The swell direction is optimum SW, and with that 16-second period, the waves will have serious push and long, clean walls. The afternoon is bigger at 7.9ft, but the wind swings cross-on, so the morning is the call.
The first week of August keeps delivering. Saturday, 1 August, is glassy all day with 6.9ft and 6.2ft. Sunday, 2 August, glassy morning with 4.6ft, then a cross-off afternoon with a 4.3ft, 16-second swell. Monday, 3 August is a total gem – dead calm, glassy, 7.2ft, 14-second swell, energy 1989. That’s a perfect morning session.
Tuesday, 4 August, has a 4.9ft, 17-second swell in the morning – very long period, light cross-off. The afternoon is a big highlight: 8.2ft, 15 seconds, energy 3264, with gentle cross-off wind. That’s a top-tier afternoon. Wednesday, 5 August, is still good with 7.2ft, and Thursday, 6 August, sees another 9.8ft morning, 12 seconds, clean.
After that, the end of the run fades a bit. Friday, 7 August, the wind goes cross-on and the swell drops to 5.9ft – not great. Saturday, 8 August, bounces back with an 8.2ft, 13-second swell and cross-off wind, but the afternoon gets a bit marginal.
The best of the best? Lock in Tuesday, 28 July for the whole day, and Monday, 3 August for that glassy, clean morning with plenty of power. The crowds at Big Bay are often around, so expect company, but the quality will be worth it.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Mon afternoon, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4362 | 3536 | 2281 | 1387 | 1591 | 1539 | 1172 | 1042 | 549 | 3222 | 2901 | 3311 | 2792 | 2509 | 1762 | 991 | 821 | 649 | 486 | 423 | 444 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 12:11PM1.02m | 00:19AM1.11m | 1:10PM1.09m | 1:14AM1.17m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:56AM1.25m | 2:29PM1.27m | 2:33AM1.32m | 3:02PM1.36m | 3:06AM1.38m | 3:33PM1.43m | 3:38AM1.41m | 4:03PM1.49m | 4:09AM1.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:16PM0.61m | 6:58AM0.46m | 7:16PM0.54m | 7:43AM0.38m | 7:59PM0.45m | 8:20AM0.30m | 8:36PM0.38m | 8:52AM0.23m | 9:09PM0.31m | 9:22AM0.17m | 9:40PM0.25m | 9:50AM0.13m | 10:11PM0.22m | ||||||||
7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
4362 | 3536 | 2281 | 1387 | 1591 | 1539 | 1172 | 1042 | 549 | 3222 | 2901 | 3311 | 2792 | 2509 | 1762 | 991 | 821 | 649 | 486 | 423 | 444 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | NW 4 | SW 20 |
— | — | — | 378 | 25 | — | 226 | 217 | 454 | — | — | — | — | 192 | 92 | 41 | 36 | 19 | — | 3 | 315 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 306 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | N 4 | — | SSW 6 |
— | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 73 | — | 527 | 476 | 346 | 319 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 45 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 56 | 342 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










