Deadman's Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what we’ve got on the cards for Deadman’s. It’s a beach and reef setup, and it’s usually a fairly consistent spot, so there’s normally something to work with, but this forecast is a bit of a mixed bag.

Right off the bat, we’re looking at the end of July. The water is sitting at 62°, which is a good 5° warmer than usual for this time of year—that’s a real treat, makes the early morning paddle a lot more pleasant.

The first real window of opportunity lands on Friday morning, the 31st of July. We’ve got a solid 6ft NW swell rolling in with an 8-second period, carrying a decent amount of energy (578). The wind is light from the SW, so it’s a cross-shore breeze, keeping things a little bumpy but still rideable. It’s not a total standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while. The afternoon winds pick up and shred it, so get out early.

Saturday morning the 1st of August looks a bit bigger, with the swell nudging up to 7ft from the NW. The energy is really pumping (842). The wind is glassy light from the SW, so it’s clean. That said, 7ft is pushing into steep territory, and with the period still short at 8 seconds, it’ll be a bit of a lumpy, challenging wave. This one is for the advanced crew only; beginners should stay on the sand.

The real standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Monday morning the 3rd of August. The swell is a punchy 6ft from the WNW, with a longer 10-second period giving it some proper shape. The energy is solid (640). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSW, which means the surface will be clean. This is the best combo of size and quality we’re going to see. Deadman’s will be offering up some proper lines.

After that, things start to fade. The swell drops below 4ft by Tuesday, and the winds turn onshore or cross-shore and get stronger. The rest of the first week and into the second week is a write-off. The swell stays small and weak, usually under 3ft, and the wind is just a constant cross-shore breeze in the 12-15 mph range, making it choppy and messy. There’s a long stretch of nothing from the 4th of August right through to the 10th of August.

Then, around the 11th of August, we see a change. The swell direction swings around to the SW and the period jumps way up to 18-19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. But here’s the problem: the height is tiny, only 2ft to 2ft. The energy is moderate (327 to 472), but with that long period, the waves will be fat, slow, and barely breaking. For a beach and reef setup like this, that long period will just make it close out straight. The wind is still cross-shore, so it’s not even clean. This run of small, long-period SW swell sticks around until the 15th of August, with the height only reaching 3ft by the weekend. It’s a tease, not a session.

So, to sum it up: your best bet is the early morning of Monday, the 3rd of August. The swell is solid, the wind is clean, and the energy is there. It’s the only session that really has the magic. The rest of the 16-day window is either too small, too windy, or just plain flat. It’s one of those stretches where you’ve got to pick your moment.

Rusty.

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