Is Surfing Better at High Tide or Low Tide?

The tallest tides in the world, reaching up to 44 feet, can be found at the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Canada. Location plays a key role when it comes to the best surf breaks and tidal conditions for surfing. Your beach may have perfect morning swells on high tide, but may fall completely flat during afternoon low tides. Learn the best times to surf by paying attention to the tidal changes in your local surf spots.

  1. Tides and Causes

    • Tides are the periodic rising and falling of water in oceans and other large bodies of water. The gravitational pull of the moon causes the oceans to bulge and rise toward its direction. Another bulge forms on the opposite side of the world, causing low tides because the water is also being pulled toward the moon. As the moon and Earth interact, ocean levels fluctuate and cause the occurrence of two tides daily.

    Tides and Surfing

    • The quality, speed and size of waves depend on your local tides. This is why you need to familiarize yourself with the tide cycle and surf conditions of your local waters. Some surf spots are more suitable for surfing at low tide, while others are better at high tide. A surf break can be better during either tide, depending on which of the two form the best-breaking waves at your location. Other factors influencing surf conditions are coastline configuration, winds, local water depth and weather.

    High and Low Tides

    • During low tide, some beaches have sandbars that become exposed. These beaches may have better waves during high tide because sand bars are not as shallow. For example, the waves at Spessard Holland Park in Melbourne Beach on Florida's east coast are best for surfing at high tide. High tides produce a good-for-surfing groundswell as mid-break sandbars with shifting peaks get fast and rounded on the inside. In contrast, Spanish House at the very south of Melbourne Beach is best for surfing during low tide. The lower water depths cause swells of up to six feet. The beach's scattered peaks and southwest winds produce just the right surfing conditions during low tides.

    Surf Reports

    • Check your local surf reports to receive updates on tidal conditions and find the best waves in your area. Aside from tidal conditions, surf reports include swell direction, wave height and types of surf breaks. Surf reports can clue you in if the overall conditions are best for surfing at high or low tide.