Surf spot

Impossibles

Forecast conditions and map view for Impossibles in South Africa, South J Bay. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: South Africa, South J Bay
Coordinates: -34.0305, 24.9331

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)	1.3	1.1	1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.3	1.7	1.9	1.9	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.7	2.2	2.8	3	2.9	2.6	2.4	2.2	1.9	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.2	1	1.1	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.1	1.4	1.6	1.8	1.7	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.5	2.2	2.3	2	2	1.8	1.8	2	2.1	2.1
Wave direction	SSE	S	SSE	SE	SE	SE	SSE	SSE	SE	SE	SE	SSE	SSE	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	ESE	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SE	SE	SE	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	ESE	ESE	ESE
Wave period (s)	7.7	8.7	7.2	7.1	6.4	5.8	8.3	8.6	6.6	8.6	8.7	8.4	8.8	9.4	8	7.7	7.5	7.7	7.8	7.8	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.7	7.7	7.8	7.9	8	8	7.8	7.7	7.7	7.8	7.6	8	8.2	7.7	7.1	9.2	9.8	10.1	11.2	11.3	8	8	8.2	7.6	6.2	6.6	6.5	7.2	7.3	7.8	7.5	7.7	8.1
Wave energy (kJ)	204	188	112	131	106	87	223	417	315	506	458	389	373	541	623	943	1054	957	825	692	518	406	345	323	300	270	259	248	220	187	157	127	155	178	214	211	163	118	347	509	646	685	687	353	336	336	267	379	453	343	409	353	386	459	513	557
Wind speed (km/h)	3.7	4	4.2	4.3	15.1	23.5	14.7	27.3	42.8	39.6	44.2	38.8	30.6	33.9	32.7	30.1	14.5	11.9	9.2	16.3	23.8	41.9	7.9	5.6	8.6	9.5	12.3	14.2	15.5	11.2	4.7	5.8	8.8	18.5	22.9	18	16.6	13.2	19.6	19.7	13.6	15.9	22.7	35	35.5	25.5	20	17.5	21.9	21.3	18.1	21.3	19.7	13.4	7.3	4
Wind direction	EGlassy	EGlassy	ENEGlassy	EGlassy	ESEOnshore	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESEBlown out	ESEBlown out	ESEBlown out	EBlown out	EOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ENEOnshore	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NNWCross	NNECross-on	NWCross-off	WSWBlown out	NNWCross-off	WNWOffshore	NCross	NNWCross-off	NNWCross	NNWCross	SSECross-on	SCross	WSWGlassy	WOffshore	SWOffshore	WSWOffshore	SWCross-off	WSWOffshore	WOffshore	WOffshore	SCross	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	WOffshore	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WSWBlown out	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	SCross	SCross	SCross	WSWOffshore	NNWGlassy

Impossibles (South J Bay, South Africa) is a powerful, often hollow reef break known for delivering fast, challenging waves rather than easy, user-friendly surf. It’s typically part of the broader J-Bay lineup, but with a more unforgiving feel than the famous point-style sections nearby.

What it’s like

Wave type: Fast-breaking reef wave
Shape: Can be steep, punchy, and sectiony
Power: Strong and heavy, especially on bigger swells
Best for: Experienced to advanced surfers

Conditions

Works best with a solid groundswell and favorable winds
Can get very sharp and hollow when the swell lines up
Tends to be more challenging to surf than the classic, long-running J-Bay sections

Hazards

Reef bottom
Heavy wipeouts
Can be crowded with experienced locals and visitors when it’s on
Wave quality can vary a lot depending on swell direction and tide

Overall vibe

Impossibles is the kind of spot that rewards good positioning and confidence. When it’s firing, it can produce exciting, critical surf—but it’s not a forgiving place to learn.