Big Bay Surf Break

Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 33.79° S 18.46° E

Issued: 1 pm 04 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Bay sea temperature is
13.1° C

2.5°C colder than average for this time of year

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 4 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 5 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,653 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with WSW 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 05) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 12s. 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 2.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Sun 5th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 5th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 12s
Most Powerful 8PM (Wed 8th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
1
4
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
3
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)
0.7
SW
15
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
1.2
WSW
9
2.1
WSW
12
2.3
WSW
11
2
WSW
11
1.8
SW
12
1.9
SW
12
2.2
SW
12
2.4
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
2.1
SW
15
2.1
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.7
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
232
301
215
232
1259
1284
991
855
1065
1392
1972
1626
1185
1825
1737
1452
1185
948
782
1051
706
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
10
NNE
10
N
10
WNW
5
NNE
5
E
10
SSW
5
ESE
0
WNW
10
SW
10
S
15
S
20
SSE
20
SSE
20
SE
15
SSE
15
SE
15
ESE
15
ESE
15
ESE
10
ESE
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
cross
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
6:06PM1.39m
6:15AM1.25m
6:44PM1.37m
6:59AM1.20m
7:27PM1.34m
7:53AM1.14m
8:20PM1.31m
9:01AM1.10m
9:26PM1.29m
10:21AM1.10m
10:42PM1.29m
11:40AM1.15m
11:57PM1.34m
12:49PM1.25m
Low Tide
00:16AM0.35m
12:19PM0.29m
00:58AM0.37m
12:59PM0.35m
1:48AM0.38m
1:49PM0.41m
2:50AM0.40m
2:52PM0.47m
4:03AM0.39m
4:12PM0.49m
5:22AM0.34m
5:37PM0.45m
6:34AM0.26m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:49
5:49
5:50
5:50
5:51
5:51
5:52
5:52
 mm
Temp °C
16
14
16
17
16
16
17
16
16
17
15
16
17
13
13
15
13
14
18
15
14
Feels °C
12
11
13
15
16
16
17
16
17
16
15
13
14
9
10
11
10
11
15
12
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
W
8
1.4
WSW
9
1.1
W
8
1.2
WSW
9
2.1
WSW
12
2.3
WSW
11
2
WSW
11
1.8
SW
12
1.9
SW
12
2.2
SW
12
2.4
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
2.1
SW
15
2.1
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.7
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
12
Energy kJ
219
268
161
232
1259
1284
991
855
1065
1392
1972
1626
1185
1825
1737
1452
1185
948
782
1051
706
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
15
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.2
WSW
18
0.3
SW
16
0.9
SW
14
1.4
W
11
1.1
W
11
0.7
W
11
0.5
SW
20
1.2
SW
17
1.4
SW
16
0.2
S
13
1.2
S
7
1.1
S
8
1.1
S
8
0.5
W
12
0.6
W
11
Energy kJ
232
301
215
196
31
43
304
466
289
112
188
861
1039
13
159
149
161
69
92
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
10
0.2
S
8
0.7
WSW
10
0.1
SW
19
0.1
SW
23
0.3
SW
22
0.2
W
14
0.3
W
13
0.5
W
12
0.6
W
11
Energy kJ
63
6
92
14
21
73
16
30
69
92
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
S
5
1.3
S
6
1.4
S
7
1.4
S
7
1.6
SSE
7
1.5
SSE
7
1.6
SSE
8
Energy kJ
52
130
206
209
244
229
296
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Distance (km)
4
2
2
29
0
0
0
0
0
14
0
0
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
9
7
5
5
8
7
5
5
9
7
9
5
7
5
5
4
8
4
5
  • 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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