Cave Rock
Cave Rock is Durban's heaviest wave—a powerful right-hander off Durban's Bluff. When solid Indian Ocean swells hit this stretch of coast, Cave Rock produces thick, hollow barrels that rival anything in South Africa. The wave has a dedicated local crew and a history of heavy sessions, and Shaun Tomson trained here. It takes its name from a landmark rock off the Bluff that was dynamited in the 1940s. This is Durban surfing at its most intense.
Cave Rock surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (202°)
- Direction range
- 180° - 225°
- Size range
- 1.8m - 3.7m
- Ideal size
- 2.7m - 3.2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WNW (292°)
- Offshore range
- 247° - 337°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Shore/paddle
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Cave Rock?
Cave Rock is a reef break in Durban, South Africa, that mostly breaks right. It's on our list of the world's 100 best waves.
What's the story behind Cave Rock?
The landmark Cave Rock itself was deliberately dynamited in the 1940s by the South African War Department. When Hawaii's surf proved a daunting challenge, Shaun Tomson kept training in hollow South African waves like Cave Rock.
What swell works best at Cave Rock?
Cave Rock picks up swell from the S round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 1.8m and handles up to about 3.7m, with the sweet spot around 2.7 to 3.2m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 12s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Cave Rock?
A WNW wind is dead offshore at Cave Rock, and anything from the WSW round to the NNW keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Cave Rock?
Cave Rock isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
When is the best time of year to surf Cave Rock?
The most reliable run of swell at Cave Rock comes Apr to Sep. There's a second window in Mar and Oct too. ~21% June clean (30-50 days/yr).
Is Cave Rock good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Things to watch for: shallow water at low tide, long hold-downs, rocks at the entry or in the lineup and sharp, shallow reef (booties help).
How do I get to Cave Rock?
The nearest airport on our list is DUR, then it's roughly a 20-minute drive. Shore/paddle.
What other surf spots are near Cave Rock?
The closest breaks we track are Durban North Beach (8.9 km) and Bay of Plenty (9.1 km), handy when Cave Rock isn't working. Fun fact: it's the third most northerly break we track in South Africa.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Mar, Oct
~21% June clean (30-50 days/yr)
Getting There
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