Turtles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for Turtles. It’s a reef break that's very consistent, so it’s always got a pulse, but for the next week or so, it’s a bit of a frustrating situation. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

The pattern here is a long stretch of clean, cross-off wind from the southeast, but it’s blowing fresh and strong, pinning the swell down. The swell is coming from the southwest, which is what this spot likes, but it’s not lining up right. The combined energy is moderate (1071) on Friday the 17th, but with a 15-second period, it’s got some push. The problem is the wind is just too strong, making it feel messy and marginal. The surf is around 5ft, but it’s not surfable in a satisfying way.

That same story repeats through Saturday, the 18th, Sunday the 19th, and Monday the 20th. The swell builds to 7ft on Monday with a 16-second period, kicking the combined energy into the low 2000s (1982), but that cross-off wind is still 30 km/h (19 mph), so it’s going to be a blown-out, bumpy ride. Not the good stuff.

By Tuesday, the 21st, the swell drops back and the energy stays moderate. Then from Wednesday the 22nd right through to Saturday, the 26th of July, the reports turn outright poor. The swell drops to 3ft or swings around to the southeast with a short, weak period of 8 seconds, and the wind is a strong 40 km/h (25 mph). That’s a total write-off, not even worth a paddle.

After a long gap, we start to see a glimmer on Sunday, the 27th of July. The swell direction swings back to the southwest, and the period jumps to 21 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is moderate (1164), but the wind is still a problem at 30-40 km/h (19-25 mph). It’s not clean enough for the reef.

Now, the standout window is the last few days of the month. Wednesday, the 29th of July is the one to circle. The wind drops to a light breeze of 10 km/h (6 mph), still cross-off. The swell is a solid 4ft from the southwest with a 15-second period, and the combined energy is 1340. The forecast says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. That’s because the wave quality will be clean and lined up, but with a 4ft swell on a very consistent reef, it’s manageable for a good intermediate on a shortboard. Just be aware that long-period swells like this can break a bit straight on a reef, but it should still hold shape.

Thursday, the 30th of July is also promising, with a very long 19-second period and a light breeze, giving it a 3 out of the internal score. The swell is a touch smaller at 4ft, but the energy is high (1742).

For the best of the best, I’m calling Wednesday, the 29th of July. The 10 km/h (6 mph) wind, the clean 4ft southwest swell, and that 15-second period will give you the best chance at a smooth, makeable wave. The window after that, into the 1st of August, shows some serious energy (4123) with a 7ft southwest swell and a 19-second period, but the wind picks back up to 35 km/h (22 mph), so it’s a powerful but ragged option.

If you’re a beginner, that 4ft to 5ft range is fine, but when it hits 7ft or bigger, that’s more for the experienced crew. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so mid-week you should have some room.

Rusty out.

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