Surf spot

Sandcastles

Forecast conditions and map view for Sandcastles in South Africa, South East Port Elizabeth. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: South Africa, South East Port Elizabeth
Coordinates: -33.3599, 27.3700

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)	1.5	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.4	1.6	1.7	1.9	1.8	2.2	2.2	2.4	3.1	2.7	2.4	2.7	2.5	2.4	2.3	2.2	2.1	2	1.9	1.8	1.6	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.2	1.1	1	1.3	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.5	1.9	1.8	2.6	2.5	2.6	3	2.8	2.9	3.1
Wave direction	S	SSE	S	S	SSE	SSE	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	E	E	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	ESE	E	ESE	E	E	ESE	E	ESE	ESE
Wave period (s)	8.1	8	8.3	8.3	8.1	7.8	8.4	6.7	7.3	7.5	7.3	7.8	8.2	8.6	8.4	8	8.3	7.5	7.8	7.8	7.7	7.8	7.7	7.8	8	8	8	8	7.7	7.5	7.4	7.3	7.5	7.8	8.6	8.2	8.3	8.1	8.3	9.7	10.1	10.7	10.7	11.5	11.3	11.3	11	6.8	8.8	8.3	8.4	8.6	8.3	8.6	8.7	8.5
Wave energy (kJ)	280	262	233	212	183	166	179	183	284	329	377	412	620	690	799	1230	1007	659	889	748	674	666	574	520	506	456	406	312	223	184	163	145	159	191	247	246	205	171	132	318	497	693	646	895	816	710	559	343	507	931	910	988	1207	1160	1238	1389
Wind speed (km/h)	20.5	27.2	25.7	25.3	28.2	32.8	33.3	38.6	37.5	33	41.4	47.8	38.5	48.5	52	34.5	37.6	28	27.7	29.4	28.1	5.5	7.9	21.5	10	7.6	17	20	24.5	12.5	13.4	11	8.4	10.3	22.5	25.3	34.5	29.2	22.1	19.7	29.6	27.8	29.5	33.9	35.1	42.6	25.5	24	26.6	28.1	29.3	27.4	29.4	25.3	22	18.6
Wind direction	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	EOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	EBlown out	EBlown out	EOnshore	EBlown out	EBlown out	EBlown out	ESEBlown out	EBlown out	EOnshore	ENEBlown out	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENECross-on	WOffshore	SWCross-off	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WOffshore	WOffshore	WSWOffshore	SCross	SECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	SECross-on	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	WSWOffshore	WNWOffshore	WOffshore	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWBlown out	SWBlown out	SWCross-off	WSWOffshore	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off

Sandcastles, South East Port Elizabeth, South Africa is a mellow, beach-break surf spot on the Eastern Cape coastline, best known for being a fun, accessible wave rather than a heavy, expert-only setup.

Quick description

Type of break: Beach break
Wave character: Soft to moderate, generally playful and user-friendly
Best for: Beginners to intermediate surfers, longboarders, and anyone looking for relaxed sessions
Conditions: Works best on the right swell and wind alignment, with the sandbanks shaping the quality of the waves
Crowds: Can be busy when conditions are good, especially with local surfers and learners

What it’s like

Sandcastles is typically the kind of surf spot that offers clean, peaky waves with reasonable shape when the banks are working. It’s not usually known for long, powerful rides, but it can deliver consistent, enjoyable waves that are ideal for practice and casual surfing. Like many beach breaks, it can be punchy and a bit messy when the swell gets too large or the wind turns onshore.

Best conditions

Swells: Moderate ground swell
Wind: Offshore or light cross-offshore
Tide: Often varies depending on the sandbanks; mid-tide is commonly a good starting point
Skill level: Best suited to beginners and intermediates, though advanced surfers may enjoy it on smaller, cleaner days

Local feel

The spot sits in the broader Port Elizabeth surf zone, where conditions can change quickly with the weather. It’s generally a friendly, laid-back surf environment with a mix of locals and visiting surfers taking advantage of whatever the ocean offers.