San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Swamis, San Diego County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 13s with light S winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 8s and moderate SSE wind around 10mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
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Swamis is a world-class right-hand point/reef break in Encinitas, named after the Self-Realization Fellowship temple perched on the bluff above. The wave peels along a rock reef base producing long, workable walls that get better as the swell increases. When it's on, the entire North County surfing population descends on the lineup — expect dozens of surfers jockeying for position. A California State Marine Conservation Area.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Swamis is 2-3ft with a 15.2s swell period. Wind is S at 4mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Swamis is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.4ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Swamis is Monday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Swamis works best with a W swell and E 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 Swamis. 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.
Swamis is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Swamis is a world-class right-hand point/reef break in Encinitas, named after the Self-Realization Fellowship temple perched on the bluff above. The wave peels along a rock reef base producing long, workable walls that get better as the swell increases. When it's on, the entire North County surfing population descends on the lineup — expect dozens of surfers jockeying for position. A California State Marine Conservation Area.
The prime season at Swamis 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 Swamis include sharp rock reef, extreme crowds, localism (positioning-based), sea urchins, no sand on beach — rocks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Swamis 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
