Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

We’ve got a decent pulse of swell arriving this Saturday, July 11th, and that’s where the real action is. The water is sitting at 74°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – about 2° off, so you’ll notice it’s a touch cooler than usual if you’re used to swimming here.

Saturday morning, July 11th, sees a solid 7ft south swell rolling in with a very long 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is a hefty 2691, which is strong. The wind is a cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph, so the waves will be clean with some shape. This is a bit much for beginners – over 5ft – but for experienced surfers, it’s a standout. The afternoon picks up with offshore winds at 16 mph, making for excellent conditions, though still a sizable 7ft. The swell direction from the south is right in the sweet spot for Shida’s exposed setup. Crowds are often around here, so expect company.

Sunday, July 12th, drops a touch to 6ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon, still with that long 16-second period, but the wind swings cross-off from the SW. It’s surfable, but not as crisp as Saturday. The energy drops to 1820 then 1344 – still moderate to strong, but the quality is more marginal.

Monday, July 13th, sees a big drop. The swell fades to 3ft by morning with a 13-second period, but the wind is onshore from the NNW at 6 mph, so it’s poor. The afternoon brings a brief window of glassy conditions with a light NNE breeze at 3 mph and 3ft swell, but the energy is only 296 – weak. Not worth paddling out for.

From Tuesday, July 14th, through to Friday, July 17th, it’s a real lull. Swell hangs around 2ft to 3ft, with short periods (8–10 seconds) and weak energy under 200. Winds are mostly offshore or cross-off, so the surface is clean, but there’s barely any wave to ride. These are days for a coffee and a walk on the beach.

Saturday, July 18th, and Sunday, July 19th, stay small – 2ft and 2ft, with energy dropping below 100 on Sunday. The wind is offshore, but the swell is too weak to get excited about.

Monday, July 20th, shows a tiny bump to 3ft–3ft with a 9-second period, but the wind shifts cross-off from the ESE. Still, energy is only 160–189, so it’s ordinary.

Then we hit a rough patch from Tuesday, July 21st, onward. The wind turns cross-onshore and fresh, with speeds up to 19–22 mph. The swell does build again – Tuesday afternoon sees a 3ft swell with a very long 18-second period, energy 675, but the wind is messy. Wednesday, July 22nd, brings 7ft swell with a 12-second period and strong energy (1621), but the cross-onshore and lumpy conditions make it a write-off for paddle surfing. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a traditional surf session. That pattern continues through to the end of the month – decent swell heights but blown out by strong onshore winds.

So, to wrap it up: your best bet by a long shot is Saturday, July 11th. That’s the standout. The south swell, long period, and offshore winds at Shida will give you clean, powerful waves. Sunday is a second option but not as clean. After that, the window closes for a good week, and then the wind ruins any potential from the bigger swells later on.

Stay tuned, but for now, make the most of that Saturday.

Rusty.

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