Surf spot

Crescent bay

Forecast conditions and map view for Crescent bay in USA, California, Orange County. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Orange County
Coordinates: 33.5463, -117.8020

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)	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.9	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.7
Wave direction	SSW	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSW	W	W	W	W	W	WSW	SSW	W
Wave period (s)	11.1	4.6	4.8	5	5.3	5.5	5.8	6	6	6	6	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.9	5.8	5.7	5.9	5.8	6	6	6	6	14.2	12.5	12.5	12.5	12.5	12.5	12.4	12.3	12.2	12.1	12.1	11.9	11.8	11.8	11.7	11.6	11.5	11.4	11.3	11.3	11.2	10.7	10.7	6.8	4.2	4.4	4.5	4.7	4.7	7.8	7.3	4.1
Wave energy (kJ)	94	17	23	26	28	30	38	52	70	70	61	48	42	36	32	30	28	28	30	30	28	24	22	20	117	136	136	153	153	162	168	167	172	168	168	165	162	159	158	155	153	142	132	131	123	100	99	41	15	17	17	16	15	33	29	15
Wind speed (km/h)	8	6.9	7.1	13	15	11.9	9.5	9.1	11	11.9	12.8	18.3	20.8	17.3	14.7	15.7	16.6	11.8	10.7	13.3	16.4	14.4	10.3	7.6	6.6	5.1	5.2	9.6	14.4	13.3	9.6	6.5	5.4	4.7	5.1	10	15.4	14.5	9.7	7.5	6	4	4.5	10.3	16	14.4	7.4	8.6	5.7	3.4	4.3	9.8	12.9	12.9	7.1	8
Wind direction	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SECross-on	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWGlassy	WCross	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWCross	WSWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WGlassy	WSWGlassy	WSWCross	WSWCross	WSWCross	SWCross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	WSWGlassy	WGlassy	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	SOnshore

Crescent Bay, Orange County, California is a scenic surf spot in Laguna Beach known more for its beautiful setting and occasional quality waves than for being a consistent high-performance break.

Surf character

Wave type: Usually a mix of beachbreak and reef-influenced surf
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers, depending on conditions
Typical quality: Can be fun and rippable when the right swell lines up, but often inconsistent
Crowds: Can get crowded, especially because it’s in a popular coastal area with easy access

Conditions

Works best with the right south or southwest swell
Can handle smaller summer surf on the right tide, but is generally better when there’s enough size to organize the waves
Tide sensitivity: Tides matter a lot; certain peaks may work better at mid to lower tides

Environment

Set in a very picturesque cove with clear water and dramatic coastal scenery
The spot is close to residential areas and popular beach access points, so it’s not a remote surf destination
Conditions can change quickly due to the way the cove and surrounding coastline shape the swell

Things to know

Watch out for rocks, reef, and uneven seabed features
Best to scout the spot before paddling out
Local etiquette and awareness of others in the lineup are important