Picture this: You show up at the beach, board in hand, wetsuit zipped up, and ready to catch some epic waves.
But instead of perfect sets rolling in, you’re staring at mushburgers or sketchy exposed rocks.
What went wrong?
One word: Tides.
Why Tides Can Make or Break Your Surf Session
Understanding the tide isn’t just for pro surfers or weather geeks.
It’s one of the most important factors that affects whether a surf session is magic or a total bust.
And here’s one of the biggest myths out there: There’s a “best tide” that works for all spots.
Not true.
The reality is that the best tide depends on the specific surf spot and the other conditions.
Some breaks fire during high tide.
Others need a lower tide to expose the reef or sandbar that makes the wave work.
That’s why learning your local break, or wherever you’re traveling, is key.
Of course, tides are just one part of the puzzle.
To really dial in good surf, you’ll also want to understand wind and swell direction.
Don’t worry, I'll get into all of it here.
How Tides Work: It’s All About the Moon
So what actually causes the ocean to rise and fall multiple times a day?
The moon, of course.
The gravitational pull of the moon creates bulges in the Earth’s oceans.
As the moon moves, these bulges move across the surface of the Earth, giving us two high tides and two low tides every day, on average.
The tides change in size too.
During a new or full moon, we get more extreme tides called spring tides.
When the moon is at a right angle to the Earth-sun line, the tides are smaller, these are neap tides.
Why does this matter?
Bigger tides mean more water movement, which can drastically change how a break works.
It might flood a normally dry reef, or completely drown a surfable sandbar.
Knowing the lunar cycle gives you a heads-up about what kind of tides you’re working with.
How to Find Tide Information for Surf Spots
Alright, so how do you actually check the tides?
Luckily, it’s easier than ever.
There are plenty of resources to help you stay on top of the tide forecast. Two of the most popular are:
Most apps let you see the daily tide schedule, which includes the time and height of each high and low tide, and a handy graph that shows how fast the tide is rising or dropping.
You'll also be able to see the water temperature, so you know what to wear.
Having a tide watch is also an easy way to see current tide conditions without relying on your phone.
Surfing During High Tide
High tide can be your best friend, or your worst enemy, depending on where you’re surfing.
At some beaches, high tide covers up sharp rocks or reef, making the waves cleaner and safer.
It can also help waves break more slowly, which is awesome for beginners still getting the hang of standing up and going down the line.
However, high tide can often mean mushy, slow, or even non-existent waves.
When the water gets too deep over a sandbar or reef, the wave can lose its shape and fail to break at all.
If you paddle out and find that the waves almost break…but don't, you've probably hit the dreaded high tide slump.
Know your spot.
Some beach breaks with steep shorelines can fire during high tide. Most point or reef breaks don't.
That’s why keeping a surf journal or noting conditions after each session can help you learn fast.
Surfing During Low Tide
Low tide often exposes the raw power and shape of a wave.
When the tide drops, it pulls water off the reef or sandbar, creating steeper takeoffs and more defined waves.
Some surf spots absolutely come alive on a dropping tide.
You’ll get more hollow, faster-breaking waves, great for more experienced surfers who want barrels or high-performance turns.
There is a spot that we used to surf in Honolulu called Straight Outs. It would get crazy good on a super low tide.
If there were offshore winds, the rights would break over the edge of the reef and throw super hollow barrels, even on a 2-foot day.
But low tide can also be sketchy.
Shallow water over rocks or reef means a higher risk of injury, especially if you’re not familiar with the break.
At Straight Outs, only the bodyboarders and really good shortboarders could catch the rights on a negative tide. Anyone else would hit the reef.
In some situations, low tide can make the waves dumpy or close out completely, basically an unrideable wall of water.
The bottom line is that low tide can be epic, but it’s often better for intermediate to advanced surfers who are comfortable in more critical conditions.
Understand Tide Direction
Now that you know that tides play an important role in shaping the quality of waves, you also need to know the difference between incoming and outgoing tides.
As the tide comes in, also called a flood tide, water pushes toward the shore and often improves wave conditions by making them cleaner, stronger and more rideable.
Outgoing tides, also known as ebb tides, can drain energy from waves and make the surface choppy.
However, some reef or point breaks actually work best when the tide is falling, as the receding water reveals ideal contours that shape better waves.
Each surf break responds differently to tides, so knowing the local conditions is essential. Always check the tide chart before heading out.
Understanding tidal movement is not just for scientists, it is a valuable tool for any surfer who wants to catch the best waves.
Wind Conditions: Why Offshore Is the Holy Grail
Now that you’ve got a handle on tides, let’s talk about wind because it can ruin a perfect tide and swell in no time.
Offshore winds (blowing from the land toward the ocean) are your best friend. It's best when the wind is blowing directly perpendicular to the waves.
They groom the face of the wave, holding it up longer so it breaks more cleanly. That means smooth, glassy conditions and hollow barrels. You can tell that the wind is offshore because you'll see the water get blown off the top of the wave, as pictured above.
Onshore winds, on the other hand, are the worst. They blow from the water towards the land and chop up the surface of the water, crumble the waves before they break, and generally make things a mess. A perfect swell and tide can be trashed by a 10 mph onshore breeze.
Wind direction depends on your coastline’s orientation, so again, check your local surf report to see what wind directions are best for your break.
You can also use a site like Windy to see the current wind direction.
Some spots have reliable offshore winds or no wind early in the morning and turn onshore as the day heats up. That’s why dawn patrol (early morning session) is so popular.
This happens because the land heats up faster than the water, which creates low pressure over the land.
Air flows from high pressure (over the cooler water) towards areas of low pressure (over the warmer land), giving you onshore winds.
Swell Direction: The Secret Sauce of a Good Surf Spot
Tides and wind are important, but swell direction is also key to determining ideal conditions.
Swell direction determines how the energy of the ocean hits the shoreline.
The shape of the coastline will determine the ideal direction of a swell.
You don't have to get super precise about the angle of the swell. It's enough to know the general direction that a swell has to come from for the spot to have great waves (N, NW, SE, etc.).
If you're planning a surf trip or even just a weekend session, check the swell direction too.
It’s a key piece of the puzzle.
How to Figure Out the Best Conditions for a Surf Spot
Alright, this is where it all comes together…
How do you know which tide, wind, and swell direction are best for your spot?
Step one: Research. Read surf reports on Surfline or other websites. Look up your break on forums like Reddit, Instagram, or local surf Facebook groups. You’ll often find people talking about what conditions make that wave work.
Step two: Watch and learn. Spend time at the beach observing what the waves are doing at different tides. If you’re not sure, ask a local surfer. Most are happy to give you a tip or two if you’re respectful and not crowding the lineup.
Step three: Keep track. Create a simple log of your sessions. Jot down the tide, wind, swell, and how the waves were. Over time, you’ll be able to identify the ideal conditions for your favorite spots.
The more clues you collect, the better your odds of scoring good waves.
Final Thoughts
Surfing is a sports that looks simple but gets much more nuanced once you start doing it.
Tides, wind and swell direction all play a critical role in creating good surf.
But don’t let that intimidate you.
Start with understanding tides.
Know that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Some spots fire on high tide, others are magic on the drop.
Just observe and learn.
Whether it’s high tide or low tide, if you’re in the water with a board, it will be a great day.
So wax up your board and get out there.