The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for The Rock at Costa Azul. This is a solid reef break that’s consistent and handles a good south swell, but the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag.

We start off with a bit of a flat spell. The first few days from Saturday the 11th through Monday the 13th are really marginal. The swell is small, around 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with a short period of 13-14 seconds. The energy is weak to moderate, with readings around 389 to 771 (combined energy). The wind is messy for the most part – cross-onshore in the mornings, which will leave it choppy. The afternoons clean up with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. The water temperature is a real standout though – a whopping 85°, which is 7° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual; you’ll be sweating in your wettie.

Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th are still pretty quiet. The swell drops further to 2ft or 2ft, with a long period of 18 seconds for Tuesday, but it’s still just not enough height. The energy is weak (322 to 505). Wednesday afternoon is the first little glimmer of hope: a 3ft swell from the SE with a 13-second period, and clean cross-offshore winds. The score is decent, but it’s really just a small, clean wave for the loggers.

Then things get a bit heavy. Thursday the 16th sees a jump in size to 7ft from the SSE, with a 13-second period. The energy is strong (1573 to 2139), but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. This is getting too big for the average punter, and the wind is going to chop it up. Friday the 17th is a write-off: 13ft of sloppy swell with strong onshore winds up to 25 mph. That’s not surfing, that’s survival. The energy is through the roof (5032 to 4135), but it’s a total mess. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The weekend of the 18th and 19th is still a bit cooked. The swell drops back to a more manageable 5ft to 4ft from the S and SW, but the wind is still cross-onshore or onshore. The energy is moderate (790 to 881). It’s not great, but it’s not total chaos either.

Now, the real standout for this forecast window is the final week. Monday the 20th is still a bit average, with a 4ft to 4ft SSW swell and light onshore breezes. But from Wednesday the 22nd, the charts get truly interesting. That day is a serious swell event: 25ft from the SSE with a 13-second period. The energy is extreme (17,741). The wind is cross-onshore, but even so, this is *only* for the most experienced big-wave chargers. It’s too big for this break for normal surfing.

The best of the best, however, is the period from 24th to 25th July. Thursday the 24th has a clean 7ft SE swell with a 11-second period, and light cross-offshore winds. The energy is strong (1631 to 2141). This is excellent, clean, powerful surf for experienced surfers. Then Friday the 25th is the absolute gem: a 5ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period, and glassy, dead calm conditions. The energy is still strong (1999). This is a proper groundswell. The long period will make it break a bit straight at the beach, but at a reef like The Rock, it’ll be absolutely perfect. The morning is glass, and the afternoon is also glass with a 7ft SSE swell. If you can only pick one session, Saturday the 25th morning is the one. Clean, classic, and the water is still warm.

So, a mostly slow start, a big messy swell mid-period, and then a killer finish. Keep your eyes on the 24th and 25th.

Rusty out.

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