Have you ever been surfing before or are you a beginner? It is really important to know which tide is the best type to have a great experience so you can ride the waves.
You need to know the patterns of the tides and get into a good routine so you can have the best experience when surfing.
It is also important to know that every location you visit to go surfing will be different. Every tide is different depending on where you are so you always have to be prepared for wherever you are.
You need to be organized if you are taking a trip and make sure you are checking online where your location is and what type of tide it is at that time of day.
What Is The Best Time For Surfing?
So which tide is the best to go surfing in? There is high tide or low or somewhere in the middle but what will give you the maximized experience? Tide is constantly changing because of the moon.
The majority of shorelines actually have a really light tide because the waves decrease in size the closer into the shore it gets.
There are other factors that you need to take into account which is how strong the winds are that day. There are also undertow currents that change due to weather.
What About High Tide Surfing?
When you start to surf you will realize that particular conditions of tides do not last all day and they are usually for short periods of time.
There will usually be a peak time for when the tide is at its best during the day and you will most likely want to get there when there is a rising tide to really take advantage of the weather.
What About Mid Tide Surfing?
When it is mid tide this tends to be the best time for most people when they go surfing. This is because the waves tend to increase and they become faster and more frequent.
If you hit it at the right time you could have a really good amount of time up to 3 hours of really good surfing. Therefore, it is recommended that when you are looking for a location, to try and go for this sort of wave environment.
What About Low Tide Surfing?
If you are going somewhere and it has a low tide you need to be extremely careful and should not attempt this if you are a beginner. It can be very risky when it comes to surfing in low tides especially if you do not have the knowledge of the surroundings.
This can be dangerous because there can be hard bottoms which could cause you damage.
What About An Incoming Tide?
It can be really amazing to catch an early session down in the ocean where you can watch a beautiful sunrise. At this time there will be an extremely good swell that is produced that will be great for your surf.
At this time there are usually lower winds and some calmer waters which is a great scenic time to surf.
What About An Outgoing Tide?
Similar to a beautiful sunrise there is always the opportunity of watching a beautiful sunset. Depending on how choppy the waters are, if you go out for a surf around this time when the tide is going out, you could be able to surf all night long.
It all depends on what beach you are traveling to because as said previously they are all different.
Where Can You Find Information About The Tides?
There are so many specific places you can look online for particular locations for what tide is at what tide.
It is very common for people to use online resources to check the tides before they go because they want to have the best experience and many people love to catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset.
Therefore, it is great to check what’s going on with the weather and tides before you set off. It’s so important to be organised and plan to save a journey if the weather is not too great!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is It Better To Surf At Low Tide?
Spilling waves break slower down the line which gives you more time on the face of the wave. Long story short, if you’re learning how to surf you may want to time your session around low tide so you have the advantage of catching spilling waves on the outside sandbar.
What Size Wave Is Good For Beginners?
If the surf forecast says 1-3m (3-9ft), then it’s usually a good time to go surfing. 3m waves are not appropriate for beginners, but experienced surfers take on waves of incredible height. Under 1 meter, waves are usually more suited to beginner surfers.
Is High Tide Bad For Surfing?
The best tide for surfing in most cases is low, to an incoming medium tide. Keep in mind low-tide on shallow surf breaks jack the waves up higher, leaving less room between the water’s surface and ocean bottom.
Conclusion
Overall, it is so important to check all of the different factors before you set off out for your amazing day of riding the waves and enjoying the ocean. You also need to think about what level of surfing you are at and what level you’re at.
Hopefully this guide has helped you figure out the best times you can go surfing during the day or in the evening. You should really take advantage of the particular seasons and the good weather for a surf.
Remember to check online at the variety of resources for different tide information for each location and day.
