Surf spot

umdloti tidal pool

Forecast conditions and map view for umdloti tidal pool in South Africa, East Coast North. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: South Africa, East Coast North
Coordinates: -29.6661, 31.1240

Metric
Metric	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	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Wave height (m)	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	1	1	1.1	1.2	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.6	1.9	1.8	2.1	2.2	2	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.3	1.1	1.5	1.8	2.6	2.7	2.7	2.5	2.3	2.1	2	1.9	1.8	1.7	1.6
Wave direction	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	E	E	ESE	E	SSE	SE	SE	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	ESE	E	E	S	S	S	S	E	E	SE	E	E	E	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE
Wave period (s)	8.1	8	7.8	5.5	5.8	5.3	5.8	5.5	5.5	7.5	6.2	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.3	7.3	7.5	7	6.7	6.7	6.8	7	7.3	7	7.1	7.3	7.4	7.5	7.6	7.7	7.7	7.8	7.3	8	8.1	7.3	7.5	7.1	7.3	7.1	6.5	5.8	6.7	7.2	7.4	7.2	7.3	7.3	7.5	7.3	7.3	7.3	7	7	6.8	6.8
Wave energy (kJ)	100	89	77	47	51	53	73	68	92	123	86	157	149	157	270	377	365	418	427	359	341	332	333	315	291	287	267	257	246	249	239	218	178	184	174	189	184	170	148	145	104	112	111	236	355	690	766	799	716	592	481	404	366	325	278	246
Wind speed (km/h)	4	1.8	4.6	15.3	17.4	20.4	22.2	18.2	21.8	19.3	27.4	37.2	47.9	49.2	40.7	34.6	23.4	7.2	9.2	16.6	2.9	5.3	6.3	9	5.6	8.6	1.6	13.7	15.9	26.3	22.8	23.5	25.7	23.8	21.4	18.7	25.3	23.3	15.6	16.3	11.8	24.1	18.8	12.4	17.7	14.8	18.1	21.2	13.7	11.6	10.2	16.3	10.7	11.7	10.3	8
Wind direction	EGlassy	SWGlassy	SWGlassy	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	ENECross-on	ENECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NEBlown out	ENEBlown out	NEBlown out	NEBlown out	NECross-on	NNECross-on	WOffshore	NECross-on	EOnshore	NGlassy	ENEOnshore	ESEOnshore	NCross	NWCross-off	WNWCross-off	NNWGlassy	ESEOnshore	SECross-on	SCross	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SSWCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SSECross-on	SSWCross-off	WSWCross-off	WSWOffshore	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	WSWOffshore

Umdloti Tidal Pool is a small, scenic surf and bodyboarding spot on South Africa’s East Coast North, just north of Durban. It’s known more for its beach-break waves than for heavy surf, so it tends to suit beginners to intermediate surfers when conditions are right.

Spot description

Wave type: Beach break with sandbars
Break direction: Mostly rights and lefts, depending on the sandbanks
Wave size: Usually small to moderate; can handle bigger swells but may get choppy
Best swell: South and southeast swells
Best wind: Light offshore westerly or southwest wind
Tide: Tidal and conditions-sensitive; often better on mid to low tide, but this can vary
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate, though stronger currents and bigger swells can make it more challenging

What to expect

Umdloti has a relaxed, local feel and is popular with surfers, bodyboarders, and beachgoers. The waves are often clean and fun when the sandbars line up, but the spot can be inconsistent. On good days, you can get long, playful rides; on poor days, it can be fat, crowded, or affected by wind and current.

Hazards

Strong rip currents, especially after rain or bigger swell
Rocky areas near the tidal pool and reef sections nearby
Crowds in peak season and on good surf days
Shorebreak can be punchy at times

Vibe

A laid-back coastal surf spot with a mix of locals and visitors, set in a beautiful area with easy beach access and a family-friendly atmosphere.