
Surf Forecasts:
Taapuna surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, SSW swell with 6,419 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Taapuna this week:
The surf forecast for Taapuna over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Taapuna in the next 16 days are 3.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-10) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taapuna over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Taapuna. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s some serious firepower waiting for the right crew.
The first few days are a write-off, honestly. We’ve got a solid south swell pushing through 8 ft on Thursday the 16th, but that 19 mph south wind is ruining it, making it a lumpy, cross-onshore mess. Friday and the weekend are similar stories – plenty of size, but the wind and chop keep things ugly. You’re better off waiting.
The real story starts to build from Monday the 20th. That’s when the wind finally swings around to a clean cross-offshore from the ESE, and the ocean starts to wake up. The energy is massive (5667 on Monday morning), with a solid 7 ft to 8 ft SSW groundswell. The period is a very long, juicy 22 seconds, so you’re looking at some serious, powerful lines, but it’s a wave for the experienced. This is a reef break, so that long period will be a treat, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The water is sitting at a warm 80°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The standout window is hands down Wednesday the 22nd through Thursday the 23rd. The swell is kicking up to a solid 10 ft from the SSW, and the wind is clean and cross-offshore. On Thursday afternoon, the wind even goes pure offshore from the NE, with 22 mph winds grooming those 10 ft, 16-second face-melters. The energy numbers are wild (over 6000), and this is a big, heavy, expert-only playground. If you’re an advanced surfer with a big-wave board, that Thursday afternoon is the one to circle.
The week after that tails off. The swell drops significantly, with heights back down to 3 ft – 5 ft through the 27th and 28th. The wind stays light, but the energy is weak. There’s a little flicker on the 28th and 29th with a clean cross-offshore wind and a 5 ft S swell, but it’s nothing compared to the mid-week bomb. The last day of the month, the 31st, looks glassy in the morning, but the waves are small.
So, to sum it up: the first five days are a skip. The real deal is Monday the 20th through Thursday the 23rd, with the absolute peak being Thursday afternoon. After that, it fades into a quiet, small wave period. Keep your eyes on that mid-week window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the S by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 24 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
2842 | 2155 | 1849 | 1657 | 1258 | 944 | 538 | 604 | 2112 | 1839 | 2144 | 4178 | 4335 | 6144 | 4239 | 4144 | 3085 | 6223 | 5209 | 5005 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:12AM0.27m | 2:33PM0.30m | 2:38AM0.26m | 3:07PM0.28m | 3:02AM0.25m | 3:40PM0.25m | 3:23AM0.23m | 4:14PM0.22m | 3:33AM0.21m | 5:26PM0.18m | 2:48AM0.19m | 1:38PM0.14m | 11:20PM0.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:20PM0.03m | 8:20AM0.03m | 8:50PM0.06m | 8:50AM0.05m | 9:17PM0.09m | 9:21AM0.07m | 9:42PM0.12m | 9:53AM0.10m | 10:04PM0.14m | 10:31AM0.12m | 10:20PM0.17m | 12:36PM0.14m | 4:08PM0.14m | |||||||
— | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 |
2842 | 2155 | 1849 | 1657 | 1258 | 944 | 538 | 604 | 2112 | 1839 | 1594 | 4178 | 4335 | 6144 | 4239 | 4144 | 3085 | 6223 | 5209 | 5005 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 17 | SW 17 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 12 | SSW 24 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 22 | SSE 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 |
328 | 299 | 209 | 154 | 97 | 232 | 232 | 239 | 29 | 69 | 2144 | 734 | 471 | 255 | 216 | 231 | 816 | 152 | 616 | 1528 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 16 | NW 16 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | SW 15 | SE 15 | SSW 26 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | SE 12 | — | SSE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 |
40 | 61 | 81 | 184 | 284 | 41 | 21 | 178 | 36 | 273 | 319 | 376 | 465 | — | 22 | — | 206 | 4 | 116 | 120 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | — | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 298 | — | — | — | — | 379 | 436 | 457 | 327 | 298 | — | 208 | 196 | 74 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2616 | 3503 | 1136 | 30 | 19 | 19 | 2616 | 1146 | 1146 | 1146 | 3861 | 3432 | 1146 | 2616 | 2294 | 2272 | 2272 | 2465 | 2294 | 2272 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Tahiti | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in French Polynesia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Taapuna Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Taapuna provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Taapuna can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Taapuna 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 (Taapuna) 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 Taapuna 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.
Taapuna is 4 km (2 miles) from Papeete. If you plan a holiday in Tahiti, look for hotels and other accommodation in Papeete. Papeete has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










