Surf spot

Cox Bay

Forecast conditions and map view for Cox Bay in Canada, West Coast. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Canada, West Coast
Coordinates: 49.1020, -125.8803

Metric
Metric	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00
Wave height (m)	0.9	0.8	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9	1	1	1.1	1.1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	1	1.2	1.2	1.1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	1	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	WSW	WSW	SSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	SSW	SSW	WSW	WSW	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	WNW	W	W	W	W	WNW	WNW	W	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	W	W
Wave period (s)	8.6	8.5	11.8	8.3	8.3	8.2	11.1	11.2	7.4	7.3	5.5	5.4	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.5	5.5	5.3	5.2	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.2	5.2	5.2	5.2	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.6	5.8	5.3	5.4	5.5	5.5	6.2	6.1	5.3	5.3	5.1	5.2	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.2	5	6.5	6.2	8.3	7.5
Wave energy (kJ)	109	97	108	75	79	74	121	108	54	52	36	37	38	40	44	53	61	80	72	58	46	39	36	33	32	29	31	38	44	47	60	76	77	76	64	46	45	49	51	70	71	54	47	37	36	40	38	35	37	32	28	20	24	21	31	30
Wind speed (km/h)	3.1	7.7	6.4	3.1	5.4	3.1	15.3	12.8	7.1	3.6	2.5	7	10.5	6.2	4.5	4	6.3	6.3	4.7	6.1	6.6	4.2	2.7	4.3	4.7	5.7	2.1	7.6	6.9	1.9	5.9	7.8	6.4	4.8	3.9	7	6.1	1.1	7.6	8.2	9.2	8.4	5.4	4.6	6.4	0.5	5.4	8.4	8.2	8.2	8.7	7.3	4.2	2.5	4	2.7
Wind direction	NEGlassy	ENECross-off	NECross-off	WNWGlassy	NWCross-off	SSWGlassy	NOffshore	NNEOffshore	ENECross-off	NEGlassy	NGlassy	SWCross-on	SSWOnshore	SOnshore	ESEGlassy	ESEGlassy	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	EGlassy	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWGlassy	NNWGlassy	NEGlassy	NNEGlassy	NEOffshore	ENEGlassy	SSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SSWGlassy	NECross-off	NEOffshore	NECross-off	ENEGlassy	NEGlassy	SWOnshore	SWCross-on	WNWGlassy	NNEOffshore	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	SWGlassy	SWCross-on	NEGlassy	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	SSWOnshore	SSWGlassy	SWGlassy	NNEGlassy	ENEGlassy

Cox Bay, Canada (West Coast, British Columbia) is one of the most well-known surf spots on Vancouver Island, just south of Tofino. It’s a wide, scenic Pacific beach break with consistent swell, dramatic coastal scenery, and a strong surf culture.

Spot description

Type: Beach break
Exposure: Open to the Pacific Ocean
Wave quality: Can be very good when conditions line up, with clean, peaky waves and long rides on the better days
Best for: Beginners to advanced surfers, depending on size and conditions
Bottom: Sand, which makes it more forgiving than reef breaks
Crowds: Popular, especially in summer and on good swell days

Conditions

Best swell direction: Generally west to northwest swell
Best winds: Offshore or light easterly winds
Tide: Tidal changes can affect shape and intensity; it often works across a range of tides but can be better at certain stages depending on sandbars
Water temperature: Cold year-round, so a wetsuit is essential

Vibe and setting

Cox Bay has a classic wild West Coast feel: long stretches of sand, forested headlands, misty mornings, and powerful Pacific surf. It’s one of the most accessible and surf-friendly beaches near Tofino, making it a favorite for both locals and visitors.

Hazards / considerations

Strong currents and rip tides
Cold water and changing weather
Powerful surf during bigger swells
Can be crowded near the main access points