Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Depressions over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I gotta be honest with ya – the next 16 days are looking pretty flat and uninspiring. There’s a trickle of swell, but the wave comment across the board is either “marginal” or “poor,” so we’re not talking about anything that’ll get your heart racing. The combined swell energy starts off moderate (533), but it’s all tied to a very long-period groundswell of 21 seconds, which is great for reefs and points, but Depressions is a beginner-friendly spot that’s fairly exposed to a WSW swell direction. That long period stuff can make a beach break close out straight, and with a swell height of just 2ft, it’s not doing much. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so you’ll be in for a warm paddle if you’re keen.

The first few days (Saturday 25th through Monday 27th July) are the best of a bad bunch. On Saturday morning, we’ve got a clean 2ft SSW swell with a light offshore wind. It’s small, but it’s glassy. The combined energy reads 533 – moderate. The wind stays light and offshore or onshore through the weekend, so the surface will be clean, but the swell is tiny and the period drops from 21 seconds down to 18 seconds by Sunday. It’s still marginal, but if you’re a beginner or just want to get wet, Saturday morning is your window. The water is much warmer than normal, so no wetsuit drama.

By Tuesday 28th July, the surf quality goes completely south. The wave comments switch to “poor surf conditions” and the energy drops (600 in the morning, 661 in the afternoon), but the swell is still only 3ft with a 17-second period. It’s just not holding together. The wind stays light and offshore, but that doesn’t matter when there’s no real push.

The rest of the first week follows the same pattern – tiny, weak, and poor. The swell height stays between 2ft and 4ft through Friday 31st July, but the period drops to 14 seconds, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or offshore. The combined energy stays moderate (three-digit numbers), but it’s all just a tease. Nothing worth calling a standout.

Then we hit a dead zone. From Saturday 1st August right through to Sunday 9th August, the swell doesn’t get above 3ft and the energy plummets. By Tuesday 4th August, the combined energy is down to 77 – that’s weak. The swell direction shifts to WNW and then SW, but the period is short (9 seconds) or moderate (13-16 seconds). The wave comments are all “poor surf conditions.” Winds are light, but the swell is just too small and weak to do anything. There’s a gap of over a week with no decent surf on offer.

The only flicker of hope is on Sunday 9th August, when the SSW swell is 2ft with a 15-second period and the combined energy climbs back to 163 (still weak). The wind is light and offshore in the morning. But honestly, it’s still a marginal call.

So, bottom line: there’s no standout session here. The closest thing to a window is Saturday 25th July morning, with a clean 2ft groundswell and light offshore wind. The water is weirdly warm. After that, it’s a long, flat, poor stretch. This blank run is pretty normal for the area when the swell windows don’t line up. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be checking the kite surfers if you’re desperate – the beach setup with light wind and small swell might be more their game than ours.

Rusty.

Read more