Surf spot

Ships Cove, Marion Island

Forecast conditions and map view for Ships Cove, Marion Island in South Africa, Marion Island. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: South Africa, Marion Island
Coordinates: -46.8562, 37.8443

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)	2.3	2.4	2	2.1	2.4	2.5	2.5	2.2	2	2.3	2.1	1.9	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.2	0.8	1.2	2.1	1.6	1.6	2.1	2.1	2.1	2	2	2	1.9	1.9	1.8	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.1	1.1	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	NE	NNE	N	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	NNE	NNW	N	N	N	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW
Wave period (s)	11.8	11.7	11.7	11.2	11.1	10.7	10.3	10.3	10	8.4	8.3	8.1	6.9	7	8.1	8.3	6.2	6.5	7	8.6	9.1	8.1	8.4	8.6	8.8	8.7	8.7	8.7	8.7	8.8	9	8.9	8.8	8.8	8.7	8.7	8.6	8.5	8.4	8.8	7.2	8	8	8	10.1	10.1	10	6.7	9.9	9.8	7	9.7	8.8	8.8	9.2	9.6
Wave energy (kJ)	1512	1551	1052	1085	1407	1408	1297	1036	816	755	619	494	214	189	250	194	54	126	424	374	419	579	599	628	600	606	575	558	518	491	468	437	391	363	332	302	282	259	234	181	124	216	203	203	345	363	348	178	255	218	146	262	259	281	277	312
Wind speed (km/h)	57.7	53.9	56.7	53.5	49.2	39.6	40.1	42.2	46.6	43.5	45.4	38.2	34.4	37.2	42.2	59	69.6	66.8	56.7	44.6	32.9	29.4	25.5	35	29.2	19	7.9	24.3	32	39.4	27	18.3	20.6	36.9	43.5	52	46.6	37.8	35.8	33.6	33.5	26.1	22.6	27.1	27.9	30.5	29.4	39.7	38.2	44.5	45.1	51.2	55	57.8	54.7	54.8
Wind direction	WSWBlown out	WSWBlown out	WSWBlown out	WSWBlown out	SWBlown out	WSWBlown out	WBlown out	WBlown out	WBlown out	WNWBlown out	WNWBlown out	WNWBlown out	NWCross	NNWBlown out	NBlown out	NBlown out	NNWBlown out	NNWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWCross	NWCross	WNWCross-off	SCross-off	SCross-off	SSECross-off	SSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	SSWBlown out	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	WNWCross	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	WNWBlown out	WSWBlown out	WSWBlown out	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WCross-off	WCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out	NWBlown out

Ships Cove, Marion Island is a remote, rugged surf spot on Marion Island, part of South Africa’s territory in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean. It’s an extremely isolated location, known more for its wild environment than for easy-access surfing.

Spot description

Setting: A cold, windswept cove on a volcanic island with dramatic cliffs, black rock, and a harsh sub-Antarctic climate.
Wave type: Typically a reef/rocky point-style break influenced by powerful Southern Ocean swells.
Wave quality: Can offer strong, fast, and powerful waves, but conditions are highly inconsistent and very dependent on swell direction, wind, and tide.
Water temperature: Very cold year-round; a full thick wetsuit, hood, gloves, and boots would be necessary.
Access: Extremely difficult. Marion Island is remote and access is generally limited to scientific/logistical operations, not normal surf travel.
Hazards: Cold water, isolation, rocky shoreline, unpredictable weather, strong currents, and limited rescue options.

Overall impression

Ships Cove is the kind of place that appeals to adventurous surfers in a very extreme sense, but it’s not a practical surf destination for most people. It’s best thought of as a wild, seldom-visited, high-commitment wave in one of the most remote surf environments on Earth.