Ditch Plains Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the week ahead.

To be straight with you, the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. There’s surfable energy in the water at times, but the quality is just not there for the most part, and the conditions are fighting it every step of the way. We’ve got a long run of poor surf forecasts, with only a few fleeting moments that might get you in the water for a quick, average session. The first real chance to get wet comes on Saturday the 8th.

Saturday morning, 8th August, you could get a wave at Ditch Plains. It’s a reef break, exposed to the swell. We’re looking at a small 3ft swell from the SSW with a short 6-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 111. The morning wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the W at 9 mph, which will keep the surface clean. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. Crowds are often an issue here, so expect company. Afternoon turns ugly with a stronger SW wind and a cross-chop, so get in early.

Sunday the 9th is similar – a 3ft S swell in the morning, clean with a cross-off wind, but still poor quality surf. Honestly, the wave energy is there but the shape just isn’t delivering.

Monday the 10th is a near-washout. The swell drops to 2ft with a weak energy reading of 29. The morning is glassy – that’s the only positive – but the waves are just too small and weak to bother with.

Tuesday the 11th morning offers another slim chance: 3ft from the SW, 6-second period, combined energy 104, with a clean cross-off wind. Again, surfable but very ordinary. That’s the best you’ll get for a few days.

From Tuesday afternoon right through to the end of the second week, it’s a long, frustrating stretch. The swell tries to show up a few times – like Sunday the 16th when we see a 5ft S swell with a combined energy of 253 – but the wind is a strong cross-onshore at 25 mph, making it a messy, blown-out affair. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session. The same goes for the 23rd when a 7ft S swell rolls in, but it’s cross-shore with a chop and a 6-second period, not doing us any favours. For the experienced crew, that 7ft swell is solid, but with the wind and short period, it’s not going to be a clean wave.

The only other moments that might get a small window of hope are the mornings of the 18th, 21st, and 22nd of August. On the 18th, we get a 2ft SE swell with a long 10-second period and a clean offshore wind from the NW – that’s the best-looking wind of the whole period, but the swell is tiny. The 21st sees a 3ft SE swell with a cross-off wind and a clean morning, and the 22nd has a glassy start with a 3ft SE swell and a 12-second period, combined energy 175. These are all still rated as “surfable but very ordinary.” The long period on the 22nd (12 seconds) means the swell will have good energy, but at a beach break like Ditch Plains, it might stand up a bit too straight.

So, what’s the pick? If you’ve got a shortboard and low expectations, the best bet is the morning of Saturday the 8th or Tuesday the 11th for the cleanest conditions on a small, weak swell. For a slightly bigger, cleaner look, the morning of the 22nd offers the best combination of glassy wind and a longer-period swell, though the size is still small. There’s no standout, no epic session in this window. It’s a waiting game. The longer-range stuff on the 22nd and 23rd is promising but less certain – forecasts can change, and it’s over a week out.

It’s a tough run for Ditch Plains. The energy is there sometimes, but the wind and swell direction just aren’t lining up to give us a proper wave. Hang in there, check the forecast, and maybe take the kite out if you’ve got one.

Rusty.

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