Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the Costa Azul stretch.

We've got a real mixed bag over the next 16 days. The first few days are the main event, but be warned, there's a long, quiet spell after that. The water temp is sitting pretty much where it should be for this time of year, so the rubber is optional.

The first real standout is Zippers (Costa Azul) on Tuesday the 28th. We’re looking at a solid 7ft SSW groundswell with a 16-second period. That's a lot of water moving – the energy is a massive 3422 (moderate to strong). The morning is a bit messy with a light cross-onshore breeze, but the afternoon cleans right up with a moderate cross-offshore wind. That late session is the pick of the day – clean, powerful, and pushing 7ft. Zippers is a consistent spot, so expect a crowd.

Wednesday the 29th sees the swell drop a touch, but still a very solid 6ft in the morning. The wind is a light cross, which is fine. The real magic looks to be Wednesday afternoon. We get a 5ft SSW groundswell, still a 15-second period, and the wind turns offshore at 16 mph. It’s clean, it’s got power, and the energy is still 1475. For experienced surfers this is a winner. The drop-off in quality is sharp after this.

By Thursday the 30th, the swell fades under 4ft and the energy drops. The wind stays okay, but the juice is gone. You’ll find a knee-high dribbler by Friday and into the weekend. Saturday the 1st of August is a write-off with a risk of thunderstorms and a sloppy 3ft.

From Sunday the 2nd of August all the way through to the 11th of August, it’s flat. Most days you’re looking at 1ft to 2ft of weak, short-period swell. The wind is often onshore or messy. There’s a long, dusty gap of about a week and a half with barely a ripple. We finally see a pulse on the 8th of August, but it’s only 4ft and the wind is onshore, so it’s not worth getting excited about.

The very end of the window, on Wednesday the 12th of August, shows a glimmer. The finder is showing a 3ft SSW groundswell with a 17-second period and a glassy morning. The energy is 1033, so there’s some punch for the size. It’s for experienced surfers, which implies the shape is there. That’s a long-range promising sign, but it’s a long way off, so keep your expectations in check.

For now, the call is clear: Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are your days. The best, cleanest, most powerful waves will be Wednesday afternoon with that offshore wind. Don't sleep on it.

Rusty.

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