Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach Pier
Now
Thu Nov 5 · 12–3 PM forecast
4–5 ftchest to head
Best tomorrow · Fri 6
Compare bothNothing good left today.
Best tomorrow · Fri 6, 5:45 to 10:45 AM Pacific.
then the wind turns onshore
3–4 ft · waist to chest
Light offshore wind is grooming the waves, and it’s a good size for a longboard.
Ocean Beach surf guide
Ocean Beach's everyday sandbar peaks, just up the beach from the pier · 2 things to watch
Ocean Beach guide
Ocean Beach's everyday sandbar peaks, just up the beach from the pier.
- Good for
- Intermediates; beginners walk north to Dog Beach.
- The wave
- Peaky lefts and rights over sand; it can close out.
- Watch for
- A strong pier rip on bigger swells.
- Runoff from the San Diego River, just north: stay out 72 hours after rain.
- Best when
- Best on a SW to NW swell (225°–315°) with ESE offshore wind, at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
MoreLess about Ocean Beach
Longboards at 1.5–4 ft, shortboards at 2.5–6 ft. Most consistent in fall and winter.
Dog Beach, a short walk north, is where the river meets the sea. The county closed that water after a sewage spill upriver in March 2026.
The pier is closed and slated for replacement, but it still shapes the sandbars. Up the beach, Avalanche and the Jetty break quicker and throw more of a barrel.
Flags on the sand show where boards may go and where only swimmers can, so check them before you paddle out.
- Local tip
- On big days, let the current along the pilings carry you out. The lot at the foot of Newport Avenue fills fast; Niagara Avenue has street parking.
GOOD TIDE TODAY9:00–11:10 AM2:40–5:10 PM
Guide updated October 2026
Spot research: WannaSurf, Mondo Surf, Surf-Forecast, Deepswell, Go Surfing San Diego, Visit Ocean Beach San Diego, County of San Diego, Wikipedia, Times of San Diego, City of San Diego and American Surf Magazine.
Send a spot correctionNo cam for this spot yet.
Live buoy Scripps Nearshore
- WAVES
- 3.8 ft
- PERIOD
- 14s
- FROM
- WNW 299°
- WATER
- 76°
Observed 1:30 PM · 53 min old
7-day surf
SB shortboard · LB longboard
Thu 12 PM · now
4–5 ft · chest to head ·
5 mph, gusts 6, onshore · tide 0.9 ft falling
Swell near the beach: 4.5 ft every 14 s from W
| Time | Surf | Rating | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 AM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph offshore | 0.6 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 AM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Fair–Good | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.8 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 AM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Fair–Good | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 5.6 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 AM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Good | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Thu 12 PM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Fair | 5 mph, gusts 6, onshore | 0.9 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 PM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Poor–Fair | 11 mph, gusts 14, onshore | 1.8 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 PM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Fair, dark hours | 9 mph, gusts 12, onshore | 4.5 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 PM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Epic, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 6, glassy | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Epic, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 9, glassy | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Good | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.5 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 5.7 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 4.7 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Fair | 8 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.9 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Poor–Fair | 10 mph, gusts 12, onshore | 0.8 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 11, cross-onshore | 3.8 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 8, cross-offshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Good, dark hours | 1 mph glassy | 1.5 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair | 9 mph, gusts 13, cross-onshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 6 mph, gusts 10, offshore | 5.6 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 5 mph, gusts 12, cross-offshore | 5.4 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Fair | 9 mph, gusts 10, onshore | 1.3 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor–Fair | 11 mph, gusts 13, onshore | 0.0 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Fair, dark hours | 9 mph, gusts 16, onshore | 2.9 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 14, cross-onshore | 4.2 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-onshore | 2.1 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 3 mph cross-offshore | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 4 mph cross-offshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Good | 3 mph cross-offshore | 5.8 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair | 5 mph onshore | 2.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Poor–Fair | 9 mph onshore | −0.3 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 12, cross-onshore | 2.0 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-onshore | 4.1 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-offshore | 2.6 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Good | 3 mph cross-offshore | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Mon 6 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Good | 4 mph cross-offshore | 5.0 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 6.1 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 PM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Poor–Fair | 6 mph onshore | 2.7 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 PM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Poor | 8 mph onshore | −0.3 ft and falling |
| Mon 6 PM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 3 mph onshore | 1.2 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 PM | 5–6 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 3.8 ft and rising |
| Tue 12 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-onshore | 3.0 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Good | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Tue 6 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Good, longboard Good | 3 mph cross-offshore | 4.6 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 1 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 6.1 ft and falling |
| Tue 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good | 7 mph onshore | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor–Fair, longboard Fair | 7 mph onshore | 0.0 ft and falling |
| Tue 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 4 mph onshore | 0.6 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, onshore | 3.3 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, onshore | 3.3 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 3 mph cross-onshore | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Wed 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 2 mph glassy | 4.2 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair–Good, longboard Good | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 5.9 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Fair, longboard Fair–Good | 7 mph onshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 PM | Waves unavailable | Shortboard Unavailable, longboard Unavailable | 9 mph onshore | 0.6 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 PM | Waves unavailable | Shortboard Unavailable, longboard Unavailable, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.3 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 PM | Waves unavailable | Shortboard Unavailable, longboard Unavailable, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, onshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
Today’s tide
GOOD 9:00–11:10 AM2:40–5:10 PM
Quivira Basin · feet above low water
Swell
Wave forecast checked against the live Scripps Nearshore buoy.
Updated 2:03 PM · CDIP/Scripps, Open-Meteo and NOAA.
Common questions
Is Ocean Beach good for beginners?
Yes when it’s small; bigger days suit surfers with some experience.
What tide is best at Ocean Beach?
It’s best at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
What swell works at Ocean Beach?
A SW to NW swell (225°–315°) is best, with ESE offshore wind. It picks up swell from SSW to NNW (200°–330°). Most consistent in fall and winter.
What board should I ride at Ocean Beach?
Either works: longboards at 1.5–4 ft, shortboards at 2.5–6 ft.
What should I watch out for at Ocean Beach?
A strong pier rip on bigger swells; and runoff from the San Diego River, just north, so stay out 72 hours after rain.