Dahomey Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window at Dahomey is a real struggle. We’re staring down a long, flat, and messy run with nothing worth paddling out for. The first real chance of anything resembling a wave doesn’t show up until the morning of Thursday the 27th of August, and even then it’s a marginal call. The whole period before that is a write-off.

From now until Wednesday the 26th, the surf is just poor. We’re talking tiny, weak swell, mostly under 3 ft, with a lot of cross-onshore wind messing it up. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (69) most days, and the wind is just never on our side. It’s a flat spell.

The first flicker of hope comes on Thursday morning the 27th. The swell is still small at 3 ft from the NW, but the wind finally swings to a light cross-offshore from the NE, which should clean the surface right up. Energy is still low (88), but for a brief moment, it’ll look surfable. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first sign of life.

Then Friday the 28th of August morning brings a bit more size, with swell building to 6 ft from the NNW, and the wind is clean again (cross-off from the NE). The energy jumps to 603 – moderate. This is the best-looking session in the whole outlook. The swell is just under the 8 ft mark, so it’s still manageable for a confident intermediate, but the 6 ft height and clean conditions make it the pick. The period is 10 seconds, so it’s a decent groundswell, but nothing too long.

The Saturday the 29th of August morning has a little more size at 7 ft from the NW, but the wind is cross-shore, not clean. The energy is strong (1214), but the chop will spoil it. That swell is also getting into the "experts only" territory if it peaks a bit bigger.

After that, it fades again. The Sunday the 30th has a morning session at 6 ft but with a light cross-shore, and then it’s back to small, weak, and onshore chop for the rest of the run. The water temperature is sitting at 74°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year – no surprises there.

So, the honest truth? If you’re desperate, the Friday morning the 28th of August is the one to aim for. It’s the only day that’s got a bit of size, clean wind, and moderate energy. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. The rest of the window is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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