Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. We've got a bit of a frustrating start to the outlook, but once we get past the first few days, there's some real quality on the horizon. The first decent surf doesn't show up until Wednesday the 29th of July, so we're looking at a few days of waiting. The combined wave energy during the quiet spell is weak, but once it kicks in, we get some healthy numbers.

Let's start with the main event. The standout is Cactus. This reef break is exposed to the SW, and the optimum swell direction is SW, so it's a perfect match. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing wild.

The first real window opens on Wednesday the 29th of July. Morning and afternoon both look excellent. We're looking at a 6 ft to 6 ft SW swell with a solid 15-second period, which is a proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 1,716 (morning) and 1,307 (afternoon). This is a lot of power. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the SE, keeping the waves clean. This is a call for experienced surfers only—that size and period on a reef demands respect. The long period will mean better-shaped waves and longer lulls between sets, making the paddle out a bit easier.

Thursday the 30th is still good, but a step down. The swell drops to 5 ft, but the morning has a clean offshore wind from the East. Decent surf, but not the standout.

Friday the 31st of July morning is a beauty. A glassy 3 ft SW swell with a 15-second period and a light offshore breeze from the East. The wave energy is moderate (577), but the conditions will be clean and fun. The afternoon gets a bit choppy.

Now, Saturday the 1st of August is another standout. The morning has a 4 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, offshore winds from the NE, and clean conditions. Then, the afternoon session is the pick of the entire forecast. The swell drops to 3 ft but the period stretches to an incredible 22 seconds. That's a very long period groundswell, and the combined energy is a massive 1,706. The wind is almost nothing from the SE. For a reef break like Cactus, this is a dream. It'll be lined up, powerful, and clean. The long period will make it break straighter, but on a reef, that's an advantage.

Sunday the 2nd of August is also excellent. The morning sees a 6 ft SW swell with a 17-second period, and the afternoon is a 5 ft SW swell. Both sessions have clean, cross-offshore winds. The combined energy is very strong (1,868 and 1,603). This is for experienced surfers too.

After that, the energy drops off. The first week of August has some moderate to fresh breezes, and the quality fades. Conditions get messy by the afternoon of the 4th, and the 5th is a write-off with onshore winds.

The second week has a final flicker of hope. On Saturday the 8th of August, the morning and afternoon both have a 4 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and a clean offshore wind. It's a much smaller, cleaner option, but it's a decent way to finish the run. The 9th of August is a smaller, weaker day.

So, to wrap it up: hold out for Wednesday the 29th of July for the first proper session, but the absolute best on offer is the Saturday 1st of August afternoon session at Cactus. The long period, the clean conditions, and the perfect swell direction make it a magic moment. If you're not an expert, stick to the smaller, cleaner days like Friday the 31st morning.

Rusty.

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