Swamis Surf Forecast
BREAK TYPE
Iconic reef break with long right-handers on big south swells.
GOOD FOR
The right point wraps off a cobblestone reef several hundred yards off the bluff, running long, tapered walls that hold shape from waist high to well overhead. The bottom is boulder and reef, and the face is workable rather than hollow, with a clean shoulder that suits both longboards and shortboards. Big winter swells stretch the ride and turn on a faster inside section.
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
WORKS BEST WITH
- Swell Direction
- NW W SW
- Wind
- E NE
- Tide
- Low & Mid
WHEN IT WORKS
Peak season runs November through March when North Pacific WNW and W swells wrap into the point and stretch rides out. Summer south swells sneak in but rarely light up the main peak. Mornings tend glassy with a light offshore before the westerly onshore fills in by late morning. A medium tide is the sweet spot; low exposes reef and boils, and high softens the wall.
AVERAGE CROWD FACTOR
- Weekdays
- Packed
- Weekends
- Mosh Pit
WHAT TO KNOW
Cobblestones and reef sit shallow on the paddle out, especially at low tide, so keep duck dives tight to avoid dings and urchin encounters in the exposed tidepools. The main peak sits several hundred yards from shore, demanding real paddle fitness. Crowds are the true hazard: the lineup runs deep with regulars, the pecking order is enforced quietly but firmly, and drop ins burn goodwill fast.
GETTING THERE
Main entry is the free clifftop lot at Swami's Seaside Park off Highway 101, with restrooms and picnic tables above the bluff. A long wooden staircase drops to the sand in a couple of minutes. Overflow parks along Highway 101 and nearby side streets. The standard paddle out runs through the south channel, and a shorter back door option sits about 200 yards north through rougher water.