Dickys Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer around here. The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag – there’s no real fire in the swell, and the wind is gonna be a pest more often than not. For the most part, we’re looking at small, weak waves and a lot of cross-shore or cross-onshore breeze. Don’t get your hopes up too high, but there are a couple of windows where the stars align just enough for a session.

The first real chance to paddle out kicks off on Tuesday, August 4th in the morning at Dickys. Overnight the wind drops right out, and we get glassy conditions. The swell is pretty tiny at 2ft out of the southeast, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak (105). It’s not going to be a world-class day, but when it’s that clean, even small waves are fun. The water is sitting at 68°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent spring suit. The break is a beach and reef setup, and it’s fairly consistent, so you should find a few little runners. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, but on a Tuesday morning with such small surf, you’ll probably have plenty of room.

Wednesday, August 5th morning is the next one to look at. The wind switches to a light cross-off from the SSW, and the swell bumps up a touch to 3ft from the east, with a period of 10 seconds – that’s a bit more shape. The energy is still moderate (168). It’s clean, and the waves will be rideable, but nothing to write home about. Still, if you’re jonesing for a surf, this is a solid option.

Now, the standout window in the whole forecast comes on Saturday, August 15th in the morning. That’s a week and a half away, so don’t tattoo it in stone, but the models are pointing to something good. We’ve got glassy conditions again, with the wind coming from the W at just 3 mph. The swell picks up to 4ft from the southeast, with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (249). This is the best on offer – clean, glassy, and a bit more size. The swell direction (SE) is a good match for the optimum direction for Dickys (ESE). It’s a small, punchy wave that will be fun for intermediate surfers. Beginners might find the 4ft a little challenging, but it’s not too big. Given the clean conditions, this is the session to pencil in.

After that, Sunday, August 16th morning has a cross-off wind from the SSW and 4ft swell from the SE (period 6 seconds, energy 174). It’s clean, but the short period means the waves will be a bit weak and crumbly. Worth a look if you missed the Saturday.

The rest of the 16 days? Honestly, it’s a lot of poor surf conditions with cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, showers, and choppy water. The 5ft to 5ft swells on the 8th and 9th look tempting on paper, but the wind is a mess – cross-shore or cross-onshore, with rain showers. Those days are better left for a coffee and a walk on the beach. The setup at Dickys is a beach and reef, so when the wind is wrong, it gets ugly fast.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is Saturday morning, August 15th for the glass and clean 4ft waves. Tuesday morning, August 4th and Wednesday morning, August 5th are your early-week options for small but clean stuff. The rest is mostly a write-off. Keep an eye on the forecast, but for now, that’s the story.

- Rusty

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