Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,191 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve had a proper look at the next 16 days for Big Bay. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some serious magic brewing if you’re willing to wait and you’ve got the skills for it.
The wait starts now. Thursday the 16th kicks off with a solid 8ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period, and glassy conditions on Thursday morning. The combined energy is pumping at 2381 (moderate), but the score tells me this is for experienced surfers only. Thursday afternoon the wind swings cross-shore and the quality drops. Friday the 17th stays clean with a cross-off breeze and a dropping 6ft SW swell, but it’s smaller. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are pretty average – the swell dips to 5ft-5ft, and the wind isn’t your friend. Monday the 20th morning is glassy with a small 4ft SSW swell, but it’s nothing to write home about.
Then we hit a rough patch. Tuesday the 21st through Wednesday the 22nd, the swell jumps to 10ft-12ft SW, but it’s blown out by a strong cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is massive (3944–4199 for Tuesday, 2873–2751 for Wednesday), but the conditions are lumpy and poor. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session. Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th are a bit cleaner, with a 8ft to 5ft SW swell and cross-off breezes, but the quality is still marginal.
The standout is Saturday the 25th of July. Saturday morning sees a 12ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, glassy conditions, and a combined energy of 5156 (strong). This is bona fide expert territory – the wave size demands respect, but the glassy wind will make it a thing of beauty. The afternoon stays at 12ft, though the wind goes cross-shore. Sunday the 26th is also a ripper, with 10ft WSW swell, a 14-second period, and a clean cross-off wind. The energy is 3924, and it’s still excellent for experienced surfers. Monday the 27th holds clean 7ft SW swell.
After that, the last few days of July and into the 30th and 31st get crazy big. The 30th has 15ft SW swell with glassy wind, but the energy is a massive 9033 – the file says it’s too big for this break. That’s one for the absolute big-wave chargers, or just a day to watch from the sand.
Water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report. The crowds at Big Bay are often there, so expect company, especially on the quality days.
So, to sum it up: the first week is average, with a few clean windows for the bold. The real deal is Saturday the 25th through Monday the 27th – that’s your window for big, clean, powerful SW groundswell. If you’re not an expert, stay out of the water on the 25th and 26th. The end of the run is pure giant.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the NW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wed 22 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3558 | 2381 | 1671 | 1169 | 773 | 635 | 377 | 343 | 357 | 833 | 723 | 534 | 377 | 389 | 264 | 1022 | 3919 | 4191 | 3781 | 2801 | 2694 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:28AM1.54m | 4:55PM1.63m | 5:12AM1.48m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:25PM0.08m | 10:40AM0.01m | 11:11PM0.09m | 11:20AM0.07m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
 | 5:54 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 3558 | 2381 | 1671 | 1169 | 773 | 635 | 377 | 343 | 357 | 833 | 723 | 534 | 377 | 389 | 264 | 1022 | 3919 | 4191 | 3781 | 2801 | 2694 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | 187 | 305 | 116 | 146 | 133 | 159 | 92 | 89 | 61 | 25 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | S 12 | W 12 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 7 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | WSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 95 | 101 | 33 | 51 | 31 | 37 | 10 | 101 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | N 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 10 | 72 | 57 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 29 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 36 | 323 | 340 | 163 | 36 | 29 |
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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