Waimea Bay
Waimea Bay was the most prestigious big wave break in the world for decades—a thundering right-hander that only truly comes alive when swells exceed 15 feet. When it's on, the takeoff is a heart-stopping drop into a churning wall of whitewater. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is held here, requiring 20ft+ consistent surf.
Waimea Bay 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° - 340°
- Size range
- 4.6m - 9.1m
- Ideal size
- 5.9m - 7.3m
- Height multiplier
- 1.08×
- Ideal period
- 18s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (120°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 160°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Mixed
Max wave face
15m+
Board
Gun / Step-up
Consistency
3/10
Difficulty
10/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Beach access. Popular swimming beach when flat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Waimea Bay?
Waimea Bay is a big-wave spot in North Shore, Oahu, USA, that mostly breaks right. It's on our list of the world's 100 best waves. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 15m. It's fickle (consistency 3/10), so it's worth jumping on when it does turn on. A step-up or gun is the usual call.
What's the story behind Waimea Bay?
Waimea means 'reddish water' in Hawaiian. Its big surf went unridden for years until 7 November 1957, when a handful of surfers finally paddled out. The Eddie needs 20-foot open-ocean swell to run, so it had been held only eleven times between 1984 and December 2024.
What swell works best at Waimea Bay?
Waimea Bay 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 4.6m and keeps going up to about 9.1m, with the sweet spot around 5.9 to 7.3m. Period matters too: aim for 18s or longer, as anything under 14s 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 Waimea Bay?
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Waimea Bay, and anything from the E round to the SSE 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 Waimea Bay?
Waimea Bay is at its best around the mid to high tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Waimea Bay?
The most reliable run of swell at Waimea Bay comes Dec to Feb. There's a second window in Mar and Nov too. Only really turns on at 15ft+. Dec-Feb peak. Eddie Aikau invitational venue.
How cold is the water at Waimea Bay?
The water at Waimea Bay 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 Waimea Bay good for beginners?
No. As a big-wave spot, it's strictly for experienced surfers. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. Only breaks properly at 15ft+. Massive shorebreak on close-out sets.
How do I get to Waimea Bay?
The nearest airport on our list is HNL, then it's roughly a 50-minute drive. Beach access. Popular swimming beach when flat.
What other surf spots are near Waimea Bay?
The closest breaks we track are Leftovers (0.6 km), Pupukea (2.7 km) and Rockpile (2.7 km), handy when Waimea Bay isn't working. We track 23 spots around North Shore, Oahu in total.
Best Season
Peak: Dec, Jan, Feb
Secondary: Nov, Mar
Only really turns on at 15ft+. Dec-Feb peak. Eddie Aikau invitational venue.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Leftovers
🤫 North Shore sleeper • World-class potential • Empty on the right day
Pupukea
🌊 Classic Hawaiian reef • Fun to demanding • Barrel potential
Rockpile
🪨 Gap in the Road • 150-yard lefts • Uncrowded alternative
Rocky Point
📸 Photographer magnet • High performance • Shifty peaks
Log Cabins
🪵 Heavier than Pipe • N swell magnet • Life-changing barrels
Gas Chambers
💀 Detonating barrels • Extremely shallow • Helmet recommended
Plan a trip around Waimea Bay
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