The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The Rock-Costa Azul (Costa Azul) is a reef break that’s consistent and handles a south swell well, and it’s got some proper days coming up.

The water temperature is sitting at 82°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – about 5° above average, so you’re looking at a real warm bath.

The first real standout is Friday afternoon, July 3rd. It’s clear skies, a light cross-off SW breeze at 6 mph, and the swell is 3 ft from the SSW at 14 seconds. That’s a groundswell, giving good shaped waves and decent energy. The combined swell energy is moderate (607). Conditions will be clean, and the wind is just right for this break. This is a solid call for a Friday afternoon surf – not too big, clean, and should be fun.

Saturday the 4th is a split day. The morning is a bit of a wash with a light cross-on breeze and only 3 ft of swell, so it’s not great. But Saturday afternoon comes alive again with a 3 ft SSW swell, now at a very long 18 seconds, and that cross-off SW breeze at 6 mph. The energy is still moderate (771), and it will be clean again. That long period will make the waves peel nicely on this reef, but be aware it can make for longer lulls between sets. Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th are on the marginal side, with cross or cross-on breezes, and while there’s a solid pulse of energy (up to 1243 on Monday morning), the wind isn’t as good.

The next real standout is Tuesday afternoon, July 7th. Swell bumps up to 5 ft from the SSW, 18 seconds, and a cross-off WSW breeze at 12 mph. The combined energy is strong at 1518. This is a powerful, clean afternoon session, but that 5 ft is getting into the range where it’s more for the advanced crew. The wind is clean, the swell has punch – this is the best session of the first week.

After that, things get a bit more marginal through the middle of the month, with smaller swells and onshore influences. There’s a gap of a few days with no strong recommendations.

A notable shift happens toward Monday afternoon, July 13th. The swell drops to 2 ft, but it’s from the SSW at a very long 19 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze. Clean surf, but very small – a longboard or a funboard day.

Then, Friday, July 17th brings a solid pulse. The morning session shows a 6 ft SSE swell at 12 seconds, with a clean cross-off SW breeze at 6 mph. Energy is moderate (986). This is a good, clean winter swell but again, over 5 ft means the beginners should be cautious.

The big warning comes for Saturday, July 18th. The morning shows a huge 16 ft swell from the S at 14 seconds, with energy at a massive 9120. The wind is light and cross-off, but the swell is simply too big for this break. This is a big-wave situation only for the absolute experts, and even then, it may be more of a spectacle than a session. The afternoon is similar with 15 ft. This setup looks more interesting for tow-in or even kite surfing than standard paddle surfing.

So, overall, the best bets are Friday afternoon the 3rd, and Tuesday afternoon the 7th. Both offer clean, decent-sized, long-period groundswell with good wind for The Rock-Costa Azul.

Rusty

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