Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a tricky one. The only spot in the mix is Depressions, and it’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent break. The water is sitting at a very unusual 70°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a real bonus for those long sessions.

The outlook kicks off on Friday, 24th July, and honestly, it’s a slow start. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, but with a very long period of 24 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, but for a beach break, that long period can make the waves break too straight and mushy. The combined energy is moderate (645), and the wind is light and offshore, so it’ll be clean. Still, it’s marginal – more of a longboard glide than a proper wave.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th look similar. Swell stays small, around 2ft to 2ft, still from the SSW/SW, with periods dropping from 21 to 18 seconds. The wind holds light offshore, so the surface will be glassy. The energy is still moderate (around 500-550). The sets will be far apart, but if you’re patient, there’s a little something to play with.

Monday the 27th sees a tiny bump. The morning has 3ft swell from the SSW, 18-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 707 (still moderate). The wind is offshore again. It’s the best of a small bunch, but it’s still a far cry from pumping.

From Tuesday the 28th through to the end of July, the story is much the same. Swell heights hover around 2ft to 4ft, directions wobble between SSW and SSE, and periods slowly drop from 17 down to 14 seconds. The wind remains mostly light and offshore, keeping the surface clean. The highlight is Tuesday afternoon, 28th July, when the combined energy hits 1258 (moderate), but the swell is still only 3ft. It’s a tease. The score is never high – it’s all marginal or poor conditions.

The first week of August is a real letdown. Swell direction shifts to the W and WNW, and the period drops to 9-8 seconds – that’s short-period, weak windswell. The combined energy falls to between 100 and 350 (weak to weak-moderate). The wind turns cross-onshore, making it choppy. The surf is poor and not worth a paddle.

The second week, from 5th to 8th August, is a total write-off. Swell sizes are tiny, 1ft to 2ft, and the energy is in the weak range (54-164). The wind is light, but the swell is just not there. The waves are so small it’s barely a ripple.

The Standout (sort of)
If you had to pick one session, it’s the Monday morning, 27th July. The 3ft, 18-second SSW swell, with clean offshore wind, gives the best chance of a small, rideable wave. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but it’s the best of a very quiet window.

Bottom line: This is a flat spell for Depressions. The consistent, light offshore winds are a blessing, but the swell energy is low and the periods are all over the place. For a beginner, the small clean waves in the first few days are fine, but for anyone else, it’s pretty bleak. The long stretch of poor surf from 3rd August onward is a real killer. The setup is so small and weak, it’s not even interesting for kiting.

Rusty.

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