Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get stuck into this forecast. Watermans is the only spot on the radar for the next couple of weeks, so we’re going to be all-in on this reef break.

First up, the water’s sitting at 64°F, which is a bit colder than what we’d usually expect for this time of year. It’s not a massive shock, but you’ll want the hood or a good thick wetsuit, especially for the early sessions.

The opening move is this Wednesday morning. We’ve got a solid 8ft of WSW groundswell rolling in with a juicy 16-second period. The wind is a light cross-off from the NNE, and the conditions are clean. This is a proper start – the kind of day that gets the heart rate up. The energy is strong (3504), and while it’s not a monster, it’s got real push. The afternoon sees the swell bump to 10ft, but the wind swings onshore and the tide gets questionable, so the morning is the clear winner here.

Thursday is a step down. The swell holds at 10ft, still WSW, but the NW wind is cross-on and the surface gets a bit of ripple. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the clean, sharp lines we had. The afternoon is a write-off with onshore W winds at 12 mph. Friday is more of the same, with rain showers and a choppy, cross-onshore mess. Definitely park it.

Saturday the 8th is a big NO. The swell jumps to a solid 15ft, but it’s accompanied by a strong 25 mph SSW cross-on wind and driving rain. The energy is very strong (7497), but the ocean is going to be a washing machine. This is not paddling surf; it’s kite-surfing territory with this wind and size. Stay off the water.

Sunday morning, the 9th, is where the week starts to turn. The wind drops out to a light N cross, and the swell settles to 12ft with a long 17-second period. The energy is still strong (7282), and while it’s a bit cross, the surface is clean with just a few ripples. This is a solid, powerful day for experienced surfers. The long period means it’ll be lining up nicely on the reef, but it’s a handful.

Monday and Tuesday are average. The swell is still big (12-13ft) but the winds are fresher and cross-shore, making for lumpy, tricky conditions. Not a total loss, but you’ll be fighting the chop more than riding it.

Now, here’s the standout. The following week, particularly from Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th, things get really good. The swell backs off a touch to a still-solid 8ft, but the wind turns light cross-off from the ENE early in the mornings. The period stays in that sweet 15-16 second range, and the surfaces are clean. These are the days you want. The energy is moderate-to-strong (2772-3360), but the quality is top-notch. The morning sessions on the 12th, 13th, and 14th are the best on offer in this whole run. The 13th, in particular, has that extra period and clean, glassy conditions that will make the reef fire.

Saturday the 15th is a bit of a wildcard. The swell drops to 6ft, but the morning is glassy – zero wind. That’s rare, and on a reef like Watermans, a glassy 6ft WSW swell with 14-second period could be a beautiful, fun size. Not the biggest, but maybe the most user-friendly wave of the window.

The next week starts to fade a bit. Sunday the 16th is okay, but the wind gets cross-shore. Monday the 17th is back to a bigger, messier 10ft with rain. But then, Tuesday the 18th morning, we get another clean one. Light offshore ENE wind, 8ft WSW swell, 16-second period. That’s another cracker for the experienced crew.

The last couple of days of the forecast, the 19th and 20th, are a mess. Strong onshore winds, rain, and a stormy vibe. The swell is still there, but the quality is gone. Not worth it.

So, to wrap it up. The first few days are a mix of big and messy. The standout window is definitely the mornings of the 12th, 13th, and 14th – clean, powerful, and consistent. The glassy morning on the 15th is also a hidden gem. The long-range stuff, like the 18th, is promising but we’ll have to see. For now, get your best waves on those three mornings next week. Watermans is inconsistent, but when it’s on, it’s on.

Rusty.

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