Thursday 16 April 2026
Tides will be roughly 9m high around 6:30am and 7pm. Both the surf and the swimming conditions will be best on the west and north coasts in the morning. Then in the afternoon the swimming conditions will become great on all coasts. Wave heights will be around 6.8 feet on the west coast, and 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2m) on the north.
Friday 17 April 2026
Clean 4-5 foot (1.2-1.5m) surf on the west coast. Lovely swimming conditions on all coasts. Tides will be 9.3m at 7:20am and 9.4m at 7:40pm.
The Weekend
The surf will be 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5m) and fairly clean on Saturday, then 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9m) and rather choppy on Sunday. The south coast will generally be best for swimming, although all coasts will be pretty good on Saturday. Tides will be 9.6m high around breakfast time and dusk.
Next Week
The surf will be rather choppy on the whole but cleaner at times, when the wind is a bit lighter. Wave heights varying between 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6m) on the smallest days and 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5m) on the biggest. As for the swimming conditions, they will be best on the south coast, especially around the times of high water. Those highs moving forward by almost an hour each day, such that on Monday it will be about 9.4m at breakfast time and on Friday it will be just 7m at lunchtime.
Beach etiquette
The sea and the beach belong to the earth (and the fish.)
Everyone has a right to use it. Nobody is more entitled than anyone else. Do so respectfully of all those around you.
Respect the environment. Take your litter home. Park considerately. Drive cautiously. Be aware of others (especially residents) in how you use the area.
All beaches have clear guidance at their entrances about safety and conditions on the beach and in the water. Be sure to read these.
Most beaches have zoned areas indicating where different usages and watersports are allowed.
Do not swim in the surf zones. Do not surf in the swim zones.
Vazon Bay is the beginner's beach. It has an area specifically reserved for novice surfers (north of the central steps; behind the restaurant). It's where the surf school is.
The reef at Vazon is mostly for experienced surfers. Most other breaks in Guernsey are unsuitable for novices.
Surf etiquette
All surfers should learn and follow these simple rules to maximise everyone's enjoyment of the water together!
- Right of way: nearest the break has right of way
- Don't drop in: if someone's on the wave, wait for another
- Paddle sensibly: paddle out through the foam out of the way of others on waves
- Hold on to your board (aka: don't ditch): your board is your lifeline but also a massive liability; hold on to it at all costs and for the safety of yourself and of others around you
- Don't snake (aka: don't steal position) - wait your turn!
- Avoid packed lineups: if a take-off is already crowded, don't make it worse. Find a different take-off
- Share the waves: there's plenty to go round
- Be humble and kind: if you make a mistake, apologise. Be gracious if you're the recipient of that.
- Novices: respect the experienced surfers around you. They can help you get better.
- Old guys: be tolerant of novices. Share your wisdom. You were a beginner once.
Did you know?
There is a 50-year old legal requirement to have third party insurance to go longboarding in Guernsey!
A longboard is defined as 'a board used for the purpose of riding the surf measuring more than five feet in length along a horizontal plane between the two most distant extremities of the board'!
No mention of paddleboards, kitesurfing, windsurfing or kayaks though!