Turtles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s coming for Turtles. This is a heavy, exposed reef break that needs a solid south-west groundswell to work, and it only really offers clean, manageable surf for experts on the right day. The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag: a lot of the time the wind is going to mess it up, but there are a couple of absolute gems hiding in the second week.

The first few days into the weekend are a write-off, really. Thursday and Friday are plagued by moderate to fresh cross-shore winds and choppy conditions, with wave heights around 4ft to 5ft. The swell is there, but it’s ugly. Saturday morning lifts a bit, with a 6ft swell from the WSW and a light cross breeze, but it’s still just marginal. The combined energy is moderate (1151), but it’s not worth paddling out for.

Now, Sunday the 19th of July is the standout of the first week. That morning you get a glassy, clean start with a 8ft swell from the WSW, a period of 16 seconds, and a combined energy that’s strong (3076). That’s a proper groundswell, and with the glassy conditions, the reef will be working well. But this is only for experienced surfers – it’s going to be powerful and a bit too big for the average punter. The afternoon turns to rubbish with a strong cross-onshore wind.

The rest of the week into the next is a lot of “almost there” but not quite. Monday and Tuesday have clean cross-off winds, but the swell drops to 4ft – 6ft, and the energy is moderate (662 to 1324). The conditions are clean, but the swell is inconsistent and not really showing its teeth.

The real gem is further out. On the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July, there’s a clean, moderate offshore wind from the east, with a 4ft swell from the WSW, a 15-second period, and a combined energy of 753. The wind is offshore, the waves are clean, but it’s small. Probably a fun board-changer’s wave.

But the best of the whole run is the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. Clear skies, a light cross-off breeze from the ENE, and a swell of just 3ft but with a very long period of 20 seconds from the west. The combined energy is moderate (858), but that long period means it’s a pure groundswell with a lot of push for its size. The reef will line up nicely. Then, the morning of Thursday the 30th of July is also a strong option: a 7ft WSW swell, a 16-second period, strong energy (2072), and a light cross-off wind. That’s a big, powerful day for the experts only.

So, for the best surf: lock in the morning of Sunday the 19th of July for the biggest, most powerful clean swell, but only if you’re an advanced surfer. For a more manageable, clean, long-period session, the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July is the one to watch.

Water temperature is about average for the time of year, so don’t expect any surprises.

Stay sharp.

Rusty

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