Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks for Watermans.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but once the wind cleans up, the swell starts to roll in proper. The water is sitting at 64°, which is a solid 3° colder than it should be for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent suit if you’re heading out – it’s a bit nippier than usual.

The first real window opens up on the morning of the 21st of July. The wind swings to a light ENE cross-off at just 3 mph, and the swell is a clean 5 ft from the WSW with a solid 14-second period. That’s a groundswell with some real push, and the energy is moderate at 816. The morning session looks clean, with very good surf conditions expected. The afternoon gets a bit choppier with a cross-shore, but the morning is the pick.

The 22nd of July is the standout. Wednesday morning we’ve got offshore winds from the ESE at 9 mph, clean 5 ft swell from the SW, and the energy is up to 832. But the afternoon is where it gets special: the wind holds steady offshore from the east, the swell jumps to 6 ft with a very long 16-second period, and the combined energy rips at 1724. That’s a strong wave, with excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The long period means the waves will be well-shaped and powerful, perfect for a reef break like this. Just be aware, at 6 ft with that much grunt, it’s not for the groms.

Thursday the 23rd stays good: morning offshore at 16 mph from the ENE with 5 ft of SW swell, and the afternoon clean again. The swell energy drops a bit but it’s still clean fun.

From Friday the 24th through the weekend, the swell drops off to around 3 ft to 4 ft. The wind is mostly cross-off or clean, so it’ll be small but rideable. The energy is weak, under 500, so it’s more of a longboard or funboard session.

The 26th of July Sunday sees a jump in swell to 6 ft, but the wind turns messy – cross-shore and cross-onshore, making it choppy. The energy is moderate at 1031, but the quality is poor. Not worth the paddle out.

The following week gets rough. From the 27th of July through the 1st of August, we’re looking at a lot of cross-onshore wind, rain, and lumpy, blown-out conditions. Swell sizes bounce around 3 ft to 7 ft, but the wind is just too strong – 19 to 34 mph – making it a mess. There’s a gap of about five days where the surf is just not worth it.

On the 2nd of August, things change. The swell picks up to 8 ft from the WNW, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore. The energy is strong at 1608, but it’s a choppy, gutless mess. More of a kite-surfing day than a paddle day.

The real monster shows up on the 4th of August. Tuesday morning sees a massive 15 ft swell from the WSW with a 15-second period. The combined energy is an extreme 10718. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the north at 9 mph, which is the saving grace – it’s not totally blown out, but it’s still a bit choppy. That’s 15 ft, folks. This is a serious, expert-only surf. The afternoon drops to 13 ft with an onshore wind, so the morning is the only window.

So, bottom line: the best surf on offer is the afternoon of the 22nd of July. Clean, offshore, 6 ft of long-period groundswell, and strong energy. That’s your session. The 4th of August is a huge, powerful swell for the pros, but the cleanest window is that Wednesday.

Rusty.

Read more