Third Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Third Reef over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but if you’re patient, there’s a couple of real gems hiding in the second half of the outlook. The water temperature is sitting at 54°, which is about 1° cooler than usual for this time of year – nothing to write home about, just a touch on the chilly side.

The first real window of opportunity kicks off on Tuesday afternoon, July 14th. It’s tiny, with a 1ft swell from the southwest, but the period is a very long 18 seconds, meaning there’s real groundswell energy in the water despite the size. The combined energy is moderate (386), and the wind is glassy – dead calm. For a reef break, that’s a recipe for clean, lined-up little waves. It’s a subtle start, but it’s surfable.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Wednesday the 15th all the way through to Saturday the 19th, the wind is a mess – mostly cross-onshore from the northwest, gusting up to 18 mph at times. The swell gets a bit bigger, up to 6ft, but with a short period of 6 seconds and choppy conditions, it’s a write-off. The combined energy climbs into the 800s and 900s, but with that wind, it’s just a washing machine. Not worth paddling out.

Sunday morning, July 19th, things start to ease. Glassy conditions return with a 3ft swell from the west-northwest, period 15 seconds. The energy is still strong (613), but the wave comment is a solid “expect very good surf conditions.” It’s a small but clean window.

The next standout is Tuesday afternoon, July 21st. Again, glassy conditions, 3ft from the south-southwest, 14-second period. Moderate energy (324), but with that glassy wind and a reef break, you’ll be surfing silky lines.

Now, the real highlight of the whole forecast lands on Saturday afternoon, July 25th. The wind goes dead calm – 0 mph from the south-southwest, glassy. The swell is 4ft from the southwest, with a very long period of 21 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1222 – that’s strong wave energy. The comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and I’d agree. That’s a day for the crew who know the reef. The direction is a near-perfect match for the optimum (WNW), so it’s going to wrap in nicely.

Sunday afternoon, July 26th also looks promising: glassy winds, 3ft from the south-southwest, 19-second period, strong energy (797), and “expect very good surf conditions.” A solid backup.

If I had to pick the one true standout, it’s Saturday afternoon, July 25th – that’s your best bet. Long period groundswell, glassy, and enough size to get your blood pumping. The 24th of July also has a late-afternoon window with a 24-second period, which is very long, but it’s a smaller 2ft, so it’s more of a longboarder’s dream.

The second week is a bit of a mixed bag – lots of cross-onshore wind and marginal conditions, but those two glassy windows in the last weekend of July are worth circling on the calendar. Crowds at Third Reef can be “sometimes” busy, so on those good days, don’t expect to have it to yourself.

Rusty.

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