Off The Wall
Off The Wall sits just west of Pipeline and delivers powerful rights with workable walls and barrel sections. When N-NNE swells sweep sets down from Backdoor, OTW lights up with fast, hollow waves that reward committed tube riders.
Off The Wall surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (330°)
- Direction range
- 310° - 350°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 2m - 2.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (120°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 160°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Reef
Max wave face
4m+
Board
Shortboard
Consistency
7/10
Difficulty
8/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Beach access near Pipeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Off The Wall?
Off The Wall is a reef break in North Shore, Oahu, USA, with peaks that run both left and right over a reef bottom. It's also a renowned bodyboarding wave. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 4m. It's one of the more consistent spots around (7/10). A shortboard is the usual call.
What swell works best at Off The Wall?
Off The Wall picks up swell from the NW round to the N, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NNW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 2 to 2.6m. 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 Off The Wall?
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Off The Wall, and anything from the E round to the SSE 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 Off The Wall?
Off The Wall is at its best around the low to mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Off The Wall?
The most reliable run of swell at Off The Wall comes Nov to Feb. There's a second window in Mar and Oct too. Nov-Feb peak. NW-NNW swells. Pipeline's neighbor.
How cold is the water at Off The Wall?
The water at Off The Wall 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 Off The Wall good for beginners?
Not really. It's rated 8/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. Powerful right for regular footers with workable walls and barrel sections. N-NNE swells sweep sets down from Backdoor.
How do I get to Off The Wall?
The nearest airport on our list is HNL, then it's roughly a 55-minute drive. Beach access near Pipeline.
What other surf spots are near Off The Wall?
The closest breaks we track are Gas Chambers (0.2 km), Pipeline (0.2 km) and Backdoor (0.2 km), handy when Off The Wall isn't working. We track 23 spots around North Shore, Oahu in total.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Secondary: Oct, Mar
Nov-Feb peak. NW-NNW swells. Pipeline's neighbor.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Gas Chambers
💀 Detonating barrels • Extremely shallow • Helmet recommended
Pipeline
🏆 The proving ground • Among the heaviest barrels on Earth • Experts only
Backdoor
🔥 Pipeline's evil twin • Right-hand deathpit • NNW swell specialist
Rocky Point
📸 Photographer magnet • High performance • Shifty peaks
Rockpile
🪨 Gap in the Road • 150-yard lefts • Uncrowded alternative
Backdoor Outer Reef
🌊 Pipe's outer shelf • 2nd & 3rd reef • Reforms into Pipeline
Plan a trip around Off The Wall
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