Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days at Zippers-Costa Azul are a real mixed bag. The water’s sitting at a very unusual 85°F (anomaly of 4°F), which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but the surf itself is mostly on the small side and often messy. We’ve got a consistent S/SSW swell direction, but the quality is all over the shop. The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until Sunday the 2nd of August.

The standout moment is hands-down Sunday the 2nd of August morning. It’s a glassy morning with some clouds, and we’ve got a clean 3ft SSW groundswell with a nice long 13-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 217, but with absolutely no wind, it’s going to be pristine. Zippers is a beach and reef setup, and with that SSW swell direction right in the slot and a long period, the sets will have good shape and power, though expect some longer waits between them. This is the best on offer – a proper little window of clean, fun waves. Crowds are often here, so don’t be surprised if it’s busy.

From there, it gets pretty grim. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are poor, with tiny 2ft cross-shore junk and weak energy readings in the 140-166 range. A couple of glassy moments pop up – like Monday afternoon and Wednesday the 12th of August afternoon – but the swell is tiny and the energy is low. The first week is really a write-off after that Sunday morning.

The second week shows some promise, but it’s far from certain. Thursday the 13th of August afternoon is a real tease: a glassy session with a 2ft SSW swell, a very long 19-second period, and strong energy at 665. That long period (over 15 seconds) makes this a true groundswell – perfect for the reef setup here, but it might break a bit too straight for the beach section. Expect clean, powerful lines. Then Sunday the 16th of August afternoon shapes up nicely too – a 4ft SSW swell with 16-second period, light offshore WSW breeze, and strong energy at 758. That’s one for the diary, but keep in mind it’s a long way out.

If you’re a beginner, the biggest swell hits 4ft on the 14th and 16th – still manageable, but the long periods will make it a bit punchy. Over 8ft never appears, so experts won’t get their big-wave fix. Honestly, if the wind stays clean, the 13th and 16th afternoons are your best bets after that initial Sunday morning window.

Rusty.

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