Big Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.79° S 18.46° E

Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Bay sea temperature is
14.4° C
1.2° 

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 10 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 2,722 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period with SSW 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 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 10th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 13s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 10th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 13s
Most Powerful11PM (Wed 15th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 13s

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


Alright, Rusty here, breakin’ down the next couple weeks at Big Bay for you.

We got a solid run of groundswell from the South-West, mostly for the experienced crew. The first week’s got some clean windows, but the one you gotta circle is that Saturday the 18th afternoon – absolute standout.

The pattern kicks off Friday the 10th with a 2.5m SSW swell, 13-second period, cross-off wind, keeping things clean. The combined energy is strong at 2402. It’s too much for beginners, but for intermediates and above, it’s a solid start. Saturday the 11th cleans up nice with a light offshore wind from the ESE, swell dropping a bit to 2.1m, but still punchy.

Sunday the 12th, the swell drops to 1.6m, still clean and friendly for intermediates. Monday the 13th is small, just 1.0m, but offshore wind keeps it tidy for a longboard.

Tuesday the 14th, it’s tiny – around 0.8m – not worth getting wet for. Then Wednesday the 15th morning throws a curveball: 0.9m but with a super long 16-second period, glassy. That long period will make the beach break a bit straight, but it’s a pretty morning for the patient.

Thursday the 16th brings a nice pulse back to 2.4m, 13-second period, clean cross-off wind (energy at 1381). Great for experienced surfers.

Now the real gem: Saturday the 18th. Morning’s clean with a 1.5m offshore breeze. But the afternoon? 4.0m of WSW swell, 13-second period, clean, with a combined energy of 5242. That’s a massive, clean swell for experts only. That’s your best window.

Sunday the 19th stays solid at 3.0m, but wind turns onshore, gets lumpy. The following week goes downhill. Monday the 20th is choppy and onshore with a 1.7m swell. Tuesday the 21st is tiny and poor.

You got a big gap of no good surf from Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd – just onshore wind and lumpy junk. Thursday the 23rd brings a massive 4.0m swell, but it’s onshore and messy.

Finally, Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th, the swell goes completely nuclear – 7.5m and 4.0m, glassy winds, but it’s just too big for the break, even for experts. The combined energy is over 22,000 – insanity.

So your best bets: Saturday the 11th morning for clean, solid waves, and Saturday the 18th afternoon for that epic, glassy, expert-only monster swell.

Water temp is about normal for this time of year.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thu
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
3
4
4
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
13
2
SSW
12
2.1
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
12
1.8
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
11
1.3
SSW
10
1.1
SSW
10
1
SSW
10
0.9
SSW
10
0.7
W
10
0.8
W
10
0.8
W
9
0.8
W
9
0.9
SW
16
2.1
SW
15
3
SW
13
2.4
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2545
2386
1989
1154
1310
833
814
561
385
260
209
150
98
116
111
108
371
1835
2722
1874
1381
Wind (km/h)
10
SE
15
SE
15
SSE
15
ESE
10
ESE
10
S
10
ESE
10
ESE
10
S
10
E
5
ESE
5
SW
5
NE
5
NW
5
WSW
5
ENE
5
SSW
5
SW
10
SE
5
SE
10
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
3:27PM1.56m
3:42AM1.56m
4:12PM1.61m
4:28AM1.54m
4:55PM1.63m
Low Tide
5:22AM0.34m
5:37PM0.45m
6:34AM0.26m
6:51PM0.37m
7:34AM0.17m
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
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:48
7:48
7:48
7:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:53
5:54
5:54
 mm
Temp °C
13
13
15
14
14
18
16
15
18
17
16
18
17
16
17
16
15
17
16
17
19
Feels °C
9
10
12
11
11
16
14
13
16
15
15
16
16
15
15
14
15
17
16
16
17
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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