Oahu
Slim pickings today — 4-6ft and poor with 22mph out of the ENE.
Slim pickings today — 4-6ft and poor with 22mph out of the ENE.
Best window·Sunday 5PM–8PM·6-7ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Diamond Head, Oahu. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 4–6ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 4-6ft and poor with 22mph out of the ENE.
Fri, Sep 4: 6–7ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 6-7ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 4-6ft and poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–6ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Expect 4-6ft waves early on S swell at 11s.
Sun, Sep 6: 6–7ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 6-7ft waves, 14mph ENE winds, fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, Sep 7: 9–12ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 6-9ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and strong ENE wind at 23mph. 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 today — get one free email when Diamond Head turns Good.
Check Diamond Head from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Diamond Head is a series of shallow reef breaks along the south shore of Oahu just east of Waikiki, best known for Cliffs, Lighthouse, and Suicides. The waves break over sharp, shallow reef and fire on south swells that wrap into the coast from May through September — this is a summer spot, not a winter one. The take-offs are fast and the reef is unforgiving, making it a step up from Waikiki and not a beginner wave. Expect a crowded, competitive lineup with strong local presence and spectacular views of the volcanic crater.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Diamond Head is 4-6ft with a 6.8s swell period. Wind is ENE at 22mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Diamond Head is 4-6ft, produced by a 5.7ft NE wind swell swell at 7s, a 3.7ft S secondary swell at 15s, a 3.3ft SSE tertiary swell at 11s, a 0.8ft E tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Diamond Head is Sunday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 6ft waves, a 12.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Diamond Head works best with a SSW swell and N 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 Diamond Head. 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.
Diamond Head is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Diamond Head is a series of shallow reef breaks along the south shore of Oahu just east of Waikiki, best known for Cliffs, Lighthouse, and Suicides. The waves break over sharp, shallow reef and fire on south swells that wrap into the coast from May through September — this is a summer spot, not a winter one. The take-offs are fast and the reef is unforgiving, making it a step up from Waikiki and not a beginner wave. Expect a crowded, competitive lineup with strong local presence and spectacular views of the volcanic crater.
The prime season at Diamond Head is summer, 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 Diamond Head include shallow reef, strong currents, crowds, localism, urchins, sharp coral. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Diamond Head 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).
