Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let me have a look at what’s coming up for you. The main show is all at Zippers-Costa Azul. It’s a beach and reef setup, and it’s consistent, so there’s waves on the cards for most of the window. Water temp is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

We kick off later on Sunday the 13th, but honestly, forget the morning – it’s marginal with an onshore breeze and a weak, short-period swell. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-off, but it’s still small and the energy’s only moderate (381). Not worth paddling out for.

You want to wait for Monday the 14th. The morning’s looking much better with a clean 2ft swell from the SW, a long period of 18 seconds, and a light cross-off wind. That long period means there’s some proper energy in the water (408), and it should wrap in nicely. This is a real standout session for the week – glassy conditions with that groundswell.

Tuesday the 15th is a weird one. The morning is a write-off – poor conditions, cross-on wind. But then the afternoon goes glassy. Zero wind. Clean. The swell is still a clean 2ft from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wave energy bumps up to a strong 566. If you can get out there, that’s your second standout. Expect it to be a bit fat on the beachier sections with that period, but the reef will handle it.

Wednesday and Thursday the 16th and 17th see the swell push up to 3ft to 4ft, but the conditions are a bit more mixed. Thursday afternoon is clean again with a cross-off, and the energy is still strong (723). Good solid waves, but nothing that’s going to blow you away like the Tuesday afternoon.

Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th stay in that 2ft to 3ft range. The afternoon sessions are clean, with good long-period energy (636, 626), but the mornings have a bit of cross-on chop. Solid, consistent surfing for intermediate skill levels.

Now, here’s where it gets proper interesting. Sunday the 20th through to Tuesday the 22nd. The swell gets a little bit more size, sitting around 4ft to 4ft from the SW. Monday morning the 21st is an absolute beauty – glassy, clean, with the swell holding at 4ft from the SW, period 17 seconds, and wave energy sitting at a very strong 933. Tuesday morning the 22nd is the same story – glassy, 4ft, energy at 790. That Monday morning is the clear standout of the whole outlook. It’s not too big for intermediates, and with that period, you’re getting long, peeling lines. Just be aware, the spot can get busy, so you might have some company.

Things start to settle back down after that. Wednesday the 23rd has a cross-shore breeze, and the swell drops off in energy (582). Thursday the 24th is glassy again with 3ft waves and a shorter period, but the energy is moderate (435). Still fun, but nothing special.

For the weekend and into the last few days, the swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft, but the conditions stay clean. There’s a nice run of glassy mornings on the 27th and 28th, with that long period energy coming back around 17 seconds and wave energy in the strong zone (517, 530). Good to finish on.

Bottom line: If you’re picking one day to make a call, make it Monday the 21st of September. That glassy 4ft groundswell with 17 seconds of period is about as good as it gets for this spot.

Rusty.

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