Most surf apps show a screen full of numbers. But you need to make a simple decision: is it worth going or not? Here are the variables that actually matter, in order of priority.
1. Wind Direction (The Most Important Variable)
Before anything else, look at the wind. Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea) is what you want — it holds up the wave face and makes it clean. Onshore wind (from sea to land) knocks the wave down before it forms properly.
Wind speed matters less than direction. A 1.5m wave with light offshore wind beats a 2m wave with strong onshore easily.
2. Swell Period (Not Just Height)
Period is the time in seconds between one wave and the next. It tells you the energy behind the swell.
Swell with a period above 12 seconds comes from far away, traveled a long distance, and has organization — waves arrive in defined sets with good intervals. Swell with a period below 8 seconds is locally generated (wind swell), arrives without organization, and is generally less fun to surf.
Rule of thumb: 12s+ period is what you want. 8–12s is okay depending on the spot. Below 8s will probably disappoint.
3. Wave Height
The height shown in apps is usually open-ocean swell height — not what will arrive at the sandbar of your spot. Depending on the bottom and beach exposure, the wave may arrive larger or smaller.
For most surf spots, 0.8–1.5m swell with good period is enough for a good session. Above 2m it can get heavy depending on the bottom.
The Shortcut: Use the Spot Score
Combining height + period + wind direction + tide manually every morning is possible but takes time. The daily score from Get Surf Report does this calculation for you — delivering a number between 0 and 10 for each spot.
Above 7: go. Between 4 and 6: depends on your level and the spot. Below 4: probably not worth it.