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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph from the W.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on SSW swell at 16s with light winds out of the WNW — nothing amazing but surfable.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with light winds out of the WSW. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
15s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 1-2ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Swamis is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.8ft S 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 Swamis is Monday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 15.6s 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.
