Seaside Reef
Seaside Beach
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, 6 to 9:30 AM Pacific.
then the wind turns onshore
2–3 ft · thigh to waist
Small waves, more fun on a longboard, and barely any wind keeps them smooth.
Seaside Reef surf guide
A fast Cardiff reef left for intermediate and better surfers · 2 things to watch
Seaside Reef guide
A fast Cardiff reef left for intermediate and better surfers.
- Good for
- Intermediate to advanced surfers who can make a quick takeoff.
- The wave
- A quick left that reforms inside, plus shorter rights.
- Watch for
- Shallow rock; fall flat.
- A small, packed takeoff zone.
- Best when
- Best on a WSW to NW swell (250°–315°) with E offshore wind, at low to mid tide (about 0.5–3 ft).
MoreLess about Seaside Reef
Longboards at 2–4 ft, shortboards at 4–8 ft. Most consistent in fall and winter.
It wants a low or falling tide. High tide drowns the reef and throws the shorebreak onto rocks, with a hard backwash.
Bodyboarders share the peak and the level out there runs high. When it gets too thick, Tabletops, the reef beside it, is the fallback.
Clean winter west and northwest swells bring its best days. The reef is exposed at low tide, with pools full of crabs and sea stars.
- Local tip
- Use the Seaside lot off Highway 101, south of the main Cardiff entrance. It's paid and opens at 7 a.m.; early risers park on Ocean Street in Solana Beach and take the bluff stairs.
GOOD TIDE TODAY9:40 AM–4:10 PM
Guide updated October 2026
Spot research: WannaSurf, Go Visit San Diego, California State Parks, Deepswell, Go Surfing San Diego and Surf-Forecast.
Send a spot correctionNo cam for this spot yet.
Live buoy Leucadia Nearshore
- WAVES
- 3.9 ft
- PERIOD
- 13s
- FROM
- W 263°
- WATER
- 75°
Observed 1:30 PM · 53 min old
7-day surf
LB longboard · SB shortboard
Thu 12 PM · now
4–5 ft · chest to head ·
6 mph onshore · tide 0.8 ft falling
Swell near the beach: 3.6 ft every 13 s from WSW
| Time | Surf | Rating | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 0.6 ft and rising |
| Thu 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Epic, shortboard Fair–Good | 4 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 2.8 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 4 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 1 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 3.7 ft and falling |
| Thu 12 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 6 mph onshore | 0.8 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 10 mph, gusts 13, onshore | 1.8 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 9, cross-onshore | 4.3 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-offshore | 3.2 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 7 mph offshore | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 7, offshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 5.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 1 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 4.4 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 9 mph onshore | 0.8 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 9 mph, gusts 11, onshore | 0.7 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 5 mph, gusts 11, cross-onshore | 3.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph offshore | 3.7 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 1.5 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 5 mph, gusts 14, cross-offshore | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 5 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.5 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 3 mph, gusts 8, cross-offshore | 5.0 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 6 mph cross-onshore | 1.1 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 9 mph onshore | 0.0 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 5 mph cross-onshore | 2.8 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph cross-onshore | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph offshore | 2.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.3 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 2 mph, gusts 5, glassy | 5.5 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 5 mph onshore | 1.7 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 9 mph onshore | −0.4 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph cross-onshore | 1.9 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 2.5 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Mon 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 5.0 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 3 mph offshore | 5.8 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 5 mph onshore | 2.4 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 7 mph onshore | −0.5 ft and falling |
| Mon 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 3 mph onshore | 1.1 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 2 mph glassy | 3.6 ft and rising |
| Tue 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 2 mph glassy | 2.9 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Tue 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 3 mph offshore | 4.6 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 0 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 5.9 ft and falling |
| Tue 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 6 mph onshore | 3.1 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 6 mph onshore | −0.2 ft and falling |
| Tue 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph onshore | 0.5 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 2 mph glassy | 3.0 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 2 mph glassy | 3.2 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.5 ft and rising |
| Wed 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 4.3 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 1 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 5.8 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 6 mph onshore | 3.7 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable | 8 mph onshore | 0.4 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 5 mph onshore | 0.2 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 3 mph cross | 2.4 ft and rising |
Today’s tide
GOOD 9:40 AM–4:10 PM
La Jolla · feet above low water
Swell
New long-period WNW swell arrives tomorrow night.
Details
New long-period WNW swell (15s) arrives tomorrow night.
Wave forecast checked against the live Leucadia Nearshore buoy.
Updated 2:03 PM · CDIP/Scripps, Open-Meteo and NOAA.
Common questions
Is Seaside Reef good for beginners?
Not really; it suits surfers with some experience.
What tide is best at Seaside Reef?
It’s best at low to mid tide (about 0.5–3 ft).
What swell works at Seaside Reef?
A WSW to NW swell (250°–315°) is best, with E offshore wind. It picks up swell from SSW to NW (195°–315°). Most consistent in fall and winter.
What board should I ride at Seaside Reef?
Either works: longboards at 2–4 ft, shortboards at 4–8 ft.
What should I watch out for at Seaside Reef?
Shallow rock, so fall flat; and a small, packed takeoff zone.