8 spots
North County San Diego surf reports
Beach breaks, a point and reefs, from Oceanside Pier to Del Mar.
. At Swamis, the forecast is 3–4 ft (waist to chest) and Good for a longboard, with 6 mph onshore wind. Conditions vary across the region.
New swell Cardiff Reef and Seaside: New long-period WNW swell arrives tomorrow evening.
Best session from it: Tue 6–10:30 AM at Cardiff Reef
Details
Cardiff Reef and Seaside: New long-period WNW swell (15s) arrives tomorrow evening.
Oceanside: New WNW swell (13s) fills in Monday morning, peaks Monday afternoon.
Swell timing unavailable for 5 spots: Grandview, Beacons, Moonlight, Swamis and Del Mar.
North County San Diego surf guide
North County San Diego runs from the Oceanside pier through Encinitas and Cardiff to Del Mar, with reefs that shine on winter swells and beach breaks that stay fun all summer.
More about North County San Diego
Best seasons
Winter. West and northwest swells light up the reefs. Swamis, Cardiff Reef, Seaside Reef and Beacons all line up best on them, and Swamis gets better as the swell grows. Del Mar’s 15th Street reef is most consistent in winter too, steepening as the tide drops. Beacons sits under a tall bluff, down a steep path from the Neptune Avenue lot. Santa Ana mornings blow offshore. The water drops to the high 50s, so a full suit is standard.
Summer. South and southwest swells favor Moonlight, Grandview and the Oceanside pier, where the coast turns toward the southwest and catches south swells that much of San Diego misses. Swamis takes a good south swell too. At Grandview a high tide pushes the water up to the bluffs, so aim for lower tides and stay well back from the bluff base, where a 2019 collapse killed three people. Mornings are glassy until the sea breeze picks up in the afternoon. The water warms into the high 60s, and the beaches fill with surf camps and rental boards.
Spring and fall. Fall brings the best overlap: the first northwest swells meet the last south swells, Santa Ana offshores blow, and the water’s still warm. Spring brings mixed swells and cooler water, and late spring often starts with the gray mornings locals call June Gloom.
Where to start
Beginners. Moonlight works on small days; it has sand underfoot and lifeguards all year. Stay out of the flagged swim areas and leave the faster D Street peak for later. On small days, newer surfers at Oceanside should stay north of the pier. At Del Mar, the beach peaks north and south of the 15th Street reef are the easier waves.
Longboards. Cardiff Reef’s soft rights are a classic, but the takeoff is tight and busy. Swamis takes a log when it’s small, and Grandview suits longboards on small days.
Shortboards. Swamis and Beacons on a winter swell. Swamis has a competitive lineup and a long paddle, and Beacons has a pounding shorebreak and rocks in the lineup. Seaside Reef’s quick left breaks over shallow rock and wants a low or falling tide. At Oceanside, the stronger surfers sit south of the pier.
Which spot for which swell
| Spot | Break | Best swell | Best tide | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanside Pier surf report | Beach | SSW to WNW (200°–295°) | Mid tide | Beginners on small days north of the pier; the south peaks take more skill. |
| Grandview surf report | Beach | SW to W (220°–270°) | Low to mid | Beginners and longboards when small, shortboards when solid. |
| Beacons surf report | Reef | WSW to WNW (255°–285°) | Low to mid | Intermediate surfers and up, on any board from logs to shortboards. |
| Moonlight / D Street surf report | Beach | SW to W (220°–260°) | Low to mid | Beginners on small days; intermediates at D Street. |
| Swamis surf report | Point | W to WNW (260°–300°) | Low to mid | Intermediate and better surfers; logs when small, shortboards when it pumps. |
| Cardiff Reef surf report | Reef | W to NW (280°–316°) | Low to mid | Longboards and improving surfers; shortboards on bigger swells. |
| Seaside Reef surf report | Reef | WSW to NW (250°–315°) | Low to mid | Intermediate to advanced surfers who can make a quick takeoff. |
| Del Mar surf report | Reef | SW to WNW (225°–300°) | All tides, best mid | Beginners on the beach peaks; intermediates on the reef. |
Guide updated October 2026