Chun's Reef
Chun's Reef is the mellow side of the North Shore—a fun reef break that offers longboard-friendly rights without the intensity of its bigger-name neighbors. Accessible and forgiving, it's one of the best spots for intermediate surfers to experience North Shore waves.
Chun's Reef surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NW (315°)
- Direction range
- 300° - 330°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 1.8m
- Ideal size
- 1.3m - 1.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Offshore range
- 100° - 170°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Reef
Max wave face
2.5m+
Board
Longboard
Consistency
7/10
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
5/10
Access: Beach access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Chun's Reef?
Chun's Reef is a reef break in North Shore, Oahu, USA, with peaks that run both left and right over a reef bottom. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 2.5m. It's one of the more consistent spots around (7/10). A longboard is the usual call.
What swell works best at Chun's Reef?
Chun's Reef picks up swell from the WNW round to the NNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 0.9m and handles up to about 1.8m, with the sweet spot around 1.3 to 1.6m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s 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 Chun's Reef?
A SE wind is dead offshore at Chun's Reef, and anything from the E round to the S keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Chun's Reef?
Chun's Reef is at its best around the mid to high tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Chun's Reef?
The most reliable run of swell at Chun's Reef comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Oct too. Nov-Mar. Mellower North Shore break good for longboarding.
How cold is the water at Chun's Reef?
The water at Chun's Reef averages around 25°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Chun's Reef good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (5/10) when it's on. Right peels over reef. Less intense than bigger-name neighbors.
How do I get to Chun's Reef?
The nearest airport on our list is HNL, then it's roughly a 45-minute drive. Beach access.
What other surf spots are near Chun's Reef?
The closest breaks we track are Laniakea (0.3 km), Himalayas (0.9 km) and Haleiwa (1.0 km), handy when Chun's Reef isn't working. We track 23 spots around North Shore, Oahu in total.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Oct
Nov-Mar. Mellower North Shore break good for longboarding.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Laniakea
🐢 Turtle Beach • Fun right point • Intermediate-friendly
Himalayas
🗻 Himalayan-scale waves • Historic swells only • Frontier big wave
Haleiwa
🚪 Gateway to the North Shore • Triple Crown venue • Toilet Bowl inside
Avalanche
🏔️ Haleiwa's outer reef • Deep water power • Big swell handler
Leftovers
🤫 North Shore sleeper • World-class potential • Empty on the right day
Waimea Bay
🤙 Big wave history • Eddie Would Go • 15ft+ to fire
Plan a trip around Chun's Reef
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