Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cooking for Watermans.

We've got a pretty solid run of surf on the cards, starting this Wednesday morning and running through to the end of the 16-day window. The water temp is about where you'd expect it for this time of year, so no need for extra rubber unless you're a thin-blood.

Kicking things off on the 22nd of July, Wednesday morning, it's looking clean. We've got a 4.9ft swell rolling in from the SW with a nice 13-second period, and a gentle offshore breeze from the ESE. That's a recipe for some fun, clean waves. The wave energy is solid (832) and the report says to expect very good conditions. That afternoon, the swell ticks up a notch to 5.2ft and the period stretches out to a very long 16 seconds, pumping the energy up to 1622. This is groundswell territory, and Watermans is a reef, so it should handle that long period beautifully. This is for experienced surfers, as the wave size is getting up there.

Thursday the 23rd carries on the fun. Morning has a 4.9ft SW swell with a 14-second period, clean under a moderate offshore breeze. The energy is still pumping at 902. Afternoon drops a touch to 4.6ft, but it's still clean and wave energy is 783. Two solid days of surf here.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th see a drop in size. The swell backs off to around 3.3ft, and the wind goes cross-offshore. The energy drops into the 300-400 range. It's still rideable, but you'll be hunting for the better ones. Saturday afternoon turns onshore and choppy, so it's time to get off the water.

Sunday the 26th is a write-off. Strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell jumps up to 8.2ft on the afternoon but it's a messy, short-period 8-second wind swell. The energy is high (2699) but the quality is poor. Not worth it.

Now, here's a standout. Monday the 27th morning. The wind goes light offshore from the SE, and we have a 6.6ft swell from the WSW with a 13-second period. The energy is strong at 1309. It's clean and the report says it's excellent for experienced surfers. That's the session to target if you've got the chops. The afternoon gets a bit onshore, so get it in the morning.

Tuesday the 28th is another good one. Clean conditions with a 4.9ft SW swell. The afternoon is a real highlight: light offshore breeze, 4.9ft swell, and a 14-second period, all clean. The wave energy is 1025, and the report calls it excellent for experienced surfers. That's a cracking afternoon session.

From Wednesday the 29th, things start to get a bit mixed. The swell stays around 4.6ft-5.2ft, but the wind becomes more variable, with cross-on and cross-shore breezes creating chop. The swell period is still long (16-18 seconds), so there's energy (1554 on the 29th afternoon), but the wind is messing with the surface.

The 31st of July into the first week of August, it gets big and ugly. We're looking at 11.5ft to 19.7ft swells, but with howling onshore winds from the W and WSW. This is not for paddle surfing. The energy numbers are massive (over 5000, then 9000, and even 23,000 on the 2nd of August), but the conditions are poor. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The swell is too big and the wind is too strong for a clean wave.

The 4th and 5th of August see the swell drop back to the 7.9ft-9.8ft range, but the wind is still cross or cross-on. The energy is moderate (around 1200-1900). The 5th morning has a very short 7-second period, so it's a weak, choppy wind swell. The 6th of August morning has a 14.8ft swell and a fresh 13-second period, with a gentle cross-onshore breeze. The energy is huge at 6538, but the wind is making it choppy. It's an option for the experts only, and it's a long way out, so the forecast is less certain.

The Best on Offer: Without a doubt, Wednesday the 22nd of July afternoon and Monday the 27th of July morning are the standouts. The 27th morning gives you a clean 6.6ft SW groundswell with light offshore winds. That's your best bet for a quality session. Tuesday the 28th afternoon is a close second.

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