Dahomey Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in on Dahomey. Gotta be real with you – the next couple of weeks look pretty rough for a proper surf session. This is a beginner-friendly spot, open to the swell, and it wants waves from the northwest. The problem is the wind and conditions are just not playing ball for most of the run.

We kick off on Tuesday, the 8th of September. There’s a little swell in the water, 4ft from the NW, with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a decent groundswell, but the wind is on it, and the whole day is a write-off. Wednesday and Thursday are no better, with cross-onshore winds messing up what little swell is there. The energy is weak, sitting around 183 to 241 (moderate wave energy) at best, but it’s all chopped up.

Friday the 11th is the same story – cross-shore winds, poor conditions. It’s a proper struggle.

Then we get a little glimmer on Saturday morning, the 12th of September. The swell drops to 3ft from the NW, but the wind goes glassy. That’s a huge positive. The energy is weak (116), and the period is only 7 seconds, so it’s not going to be powerful, but it’ll be clean. If you’re a beginner, this is your window. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so on a clean little Saturday morning, don’t be surprised if a few others have the same idea.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. Sunday through to the following week is just poor conditions, cross-onshore winds, and weak, messy swell. The energy stays low, mostly under 300 (moderate wave energy). There’s a long stretch of nothing worth chasing.

Now, hold on. Look at the end of the run. On Tuesday the 22nd of September, we see a big spike. The swell jumps to 5ft from the NW, with a period of 15 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell, and the energy is pumping at 1025 (strong wave energy). The problem? The wind is on it, and it’s classified as marginal. This is a long-range standout, so it’s promising but less certain. If that wind swings offshore, it could be a ripper, but as it stands, it’s a maybe. The next morning, Wednesday the 23rd, the swell is still 5ft from the NW with a 13-second period and energy at 821 (strong wave energy), and the wind is light and cross-shore. That’s a better chance, but it’s still a gamble at this distance.

So, the best on offer? That Saturday morning glass-off is the only sure thing for a clean, weak wave. The end of the run has size and power, but you’ll be gambling on the wind. For a beginner, anything over 5ft is getting big, and that 5ft with a long period might be a handful.

Stay tuned, and keep your eye on that forecast for the 22nd and 23rd. It could change.

Rusty.

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