New Jersey
Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with 10mph from the SW.
Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with 10mph from the SW.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Crystals, New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 10mph SW winds.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 8s with 9mph from the WNW. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on N swell at 4s with moderate N wind around 13mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 2-3ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 3-4ft and poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on ENE swell at 8s with moderate NNW wind around 9mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Crystals turns Good.
Check Crystals from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Crystals is a quality beach break near the border of Brigantine and Atlantic City, where the coastline begins its southward curve and the SE-facing exposure picks up a wider range of swell angles than the purely east-facing beaches to the north. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and punchy peaks, especially during fall when SE hurricane swells and NW offshore winds combine for clean, powerful conditions. A local favorite that often has better shape than the more crowded Atlantic City breaks nearby.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Crystals is 2-3ft with a 5.7s swell period. Wind is SW at 10mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Crystals is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.2ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.8ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft SW wind swell swell at 2s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Crystals is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Crystals works best with a SE swell and NW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Crystals. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Crystals is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Crystals is a quality beach break near the border of Brigantine and Atlantic City, where the coastline begins its southward curve and the SE-facing exposure picks up a wider range of swell angles than the purely east-facing beaches to the north. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and punchy peaks, especially during fall when SE hurricane swells and NW offshore winds combine for clean, powerful conditions. A local favorite that often has better shape than the more crowded Atlantic City breaks nearby.
The prime season at Crystals is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Crystals include crowds during peak swell, strong longshore currents, shifting sandbars, jellyfish in summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Crystals forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
