Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.06° S 151.16° E

Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shark Island (Cronulla) sea temperature is
17.1° C
0.6° 

Shark Island (Cronulla) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Shark Island (Cronulla) surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, S swell with 1,028 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with ENE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Shark Island (Cronulla) this week:

The surf forecast for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Shark Island (Cronulla) in the next 16 days are 1.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Tue 21st Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Fri 24th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 17s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sat 25th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the cards for Shark Island (Cronulla). It’s a reef set-up that takes a fair bit of south-east in the swell window, so we’ve got to be patient.

The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year – nothing too wild, just a standard winter chill.

The next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The first few days are looking pretty average. Monday the 20th has some 6ft swell from the ENE, but it’s straight onshore with a NE breeze, so that’s a write-off. Tuesday and Wednesday are small and messy, with the wind all over the shop. Thursday the 23rd is also tiny, with only 3ft to 2ft and a WSW wind that’s at least cross-off, but the energy is just too weak (107 down to 81) to bother.

Friday the 24th morning is the first real glimmer of hope. A clean 5ft south swell rolls in, with a light WSW offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (460), and the 9-second period means it’ll have a bit of push. It’s not a massive standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. The afternoon goes onshore, so make it a dawn mission.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are frustrating. The swell sticks around from the south, 5ft to 4ft, and the period stretches to 11 seconds on Saturday – a proper groundswell. But the wind is howling out of the west-southwest at 15-18 mph, just making a mess of it. The energy is moderate (524), but it’s a struggle. Sunday morning is still a bit windy, but Sunday afternoon? That’s where it gets interesting. The wind drops to glassy, with a light SSE breeze, and the swell is a clean 4ft from the south. The energy is moderate (309) and the conditions are glassy. That Sunday afternoon session is the pick of the first week – clean, lined up, and no wind.

Monday the 27th sees the swell dropping, with a 3ft south swell and a clean offshore SW wind, but it’s pretty ordinary. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are flat and not worth talking about, with energy dropping to 40 and 52.

Now, for the real standout. Thursday the 30th morning brings a solid 6ft south swell, but the wind is a cross-shore, making it a bit messy. The energy is strong (1026), so there’s plenty of water moving. Thursday afternoon, however, cleans up with a WNW cross-off breeze and a 5ft south swell. It’s a solid option.

But the true highlight is Tuesday the 4th of August. The morning shows an 8ft south swell, with a 11-second period – that’s a serious groundswell. The energy is massive (1951). The wind is light and cross-off from the west. This is expert territory. At over 8ft, it’s too big for beginners, and at a reef break, it’ll be a beast. The afternoon is a bit smaller at 8ft but from the SSE with a 12-second period, and a light cross-shore. That full day on the 4th is the absolute standout of the entire 16-day window, but it’s a long way off – more than a week away – so keep an eye on it.

The gap between Sunday the 26th and Thursday the 30th is a few days of small, ordinary stuff. And after the 4th, the following Monday the 3rd of August has a 4ft south swell and a clean offshore WSW wind, but the Tuesday is the one you want to circle.

Shark Island is a reef, so when that longer-period south swell (11-12 seconds) hits, it’ll bend and throw. It’s not a beach break, so the long period is a good thing here. Crowds are sometimes an issue, but on a Tuesday in August, you might get lucky.

Alright, that’s the lay of the land. Keep your wetsuit zipped and your eyes on the 4th. Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri morning).

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
1
2
0
0
1
1
2
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
ENE
11
1.5
ENE
10
1.3
ENE
10
1.3
ENE
10
1.1
ENE
10
1
ENE
10
0.9
ENE
10
0.9
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
9
0.7
ENE
9
1.1
S
8
1.6
S
9
1.4
S
9
1.6
S
14
1.4
S
11
1.1
S
11
1.2
S
12
1.3
S
11
1.2
S
10
1.1
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
643
469
314
307
218
175
163
126
94
71
163
431
327
1028
502
289
389
394
302
207
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
10
NW
15
NNW
20
NE
10
NW
10
W
5
NNE
15
WNW
25
WSW
35
WSW
25
WSW
10
WSW
10
ENE
20
W
25
WSW
30
WSW
15
WSW
20
WSW
5
SSE
25
WSW
Wind State
on
cross
cross
on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
1:02AM1.17m
1:57PM1.29m
1:59AM1.03m
2:51PM1.30m
3:05AM0.94m
3:46PM1.32m
4:16AM0.90m
4:39PM1.35m
5:22AM0.90m
5:30PM1.40m
6:15AM0.93m
6:15PM1.45m
Low Tide
7:10PM0.47m
7:19AM0.32m
8:19PM0.51m
8:02AM0.41m
9:32PM0.51m
8:50AM0.47m
10:42PM0.48m
9:44AM0.50m
11:41PM0.43m
10:40AM0.50m
00:29AM0.37m
11:33AM0.48m
1:11AM0.31m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:54
6:54
6:54
6:52
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:09
5:09
 mm
Temp °C
15
14
16
16
15
19
20
16
18
16
11
12
13
11
18
16
13
16
16
13
Feels °C
12
12
13
13
13
16
17
12
11
8
4
9
9
7
12
9
8
13
14
8
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  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Shark Island (Cronulla) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Shark Island (Cronulla) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Shark Island (Cronulla) surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Shark Island (Cronulla)) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Shark Island (Cronulla) may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Shark Island (Cronulla) is 2 km (1 miles) from Cronulla. If you plan a holiday in Sydney South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Cronulla. Cronulla has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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