Surf spot

OB pier

Forecast conditions and map view for OB pier in USA, California, San Diego County. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, San Diego County
Coordinates: 32.7478, -117.2539

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)	0.8	0.7	0.8	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.8	0.9	1	0.9	1	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.6
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	SW	WSW	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	SW	W	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW
Wave period (s)	11.9	11.5	11.5	11.9	7	6.9	8.9	6.7	4.7	4.8	4.8	5.3	5.5	5.8	5.9	6	6	6.1	6	6	6	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.2	4.8	5.5	5.6	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.5	7.7	7.8	10.9	13.3	13.2	12.3	12.1	12.1	13	12.8	12.7	12.6	11.6	12.3	12.2	12.1	11.9	11.8	11.7	11.3	11.2	11.2	9.4
Wave energy (kJ)	174	115	153	109	43	41	65	51	36	43	40	60	65	84	94	109	114	118	105	100	97	86	81	72	34	29	48	46	51	47	42	35	28	54	47	97	145	151	158	151	152	114	110	109	107	90	115	106	98	95	88	86	86	79	73	64
Wind speed (km/h)	8	6.8	8.6	13.3	15.5	11.3	9.4	7.8	7.2	6.6	6.8	13.5	16.1	12.4	7.8	6	6.1	7.2	8.8	14.8	15.6	13.2	7.7	7.9	7.8	7.6	7.2	11.6	15.6	12.7	7	5.1	5.2	3.3	4.4	10.5	14.7	11.9	9.3	7.1	5.7	7.3	7.2	12.2	18.1	15.8	11.5	10.5	10.8	9.4	11.3	12.5	18.2	14.6	11	9.1
Wind direction	SCross-off	SSWCross	SSWCross	SWCross	SWCross	WSWCross-on	WCross-on	WNWOnshore	WCross-on	WSWCross-on	SSWCross-off	SWCross	SWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	SSWCross	SSWCross	SCross-off	SSWCross	SWCross	SWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross	SWCross	SWCross	WSWCross-on	SWCross	WSWCross-on	SWGlassy	SWGlassy	WSWCross-on	WCross-on	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	NWOnshore	NNWOnshore	NNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	NWOnshore	NWOnshore	NNWOnshore	NNWOnshore	NWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	NWOnshore	NWOnshore

OB Pier, short for Ocean Beach Pier, is a classic San Diego surf spot located in the Ocean Beach neighborhood. It’s an iconic, easy-to-find break right off the pier, known for producing fun, fast beach-break waves with shifting sandbars rather than a single fixed reef or point setup.

Spot character

Type: Beach break with pier influence
Wave quality: Can be very fun when the sand and swell line up, but it’s inconsistent and can change a lot with shifting sand
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers on better days; beginners can surf it too when small and mellow, but crowds and current can make it tricky

Wave conditions

Swell direction: Works best on W to SW swells, though it can pick up plenty of South swell too
Wind: Usually best with light offshore to glassy conditions; onshore winds can chop it up fast
Tide: Can vary, but many beach breaks around OB are best around mid tide depending on sandbar setup
Shape: Typically offers fast, punchy peaks with lefts and rights, sometimes hollow on bigger swells

Hazards

Strong currents and rips
Crowds, especially due to the spot’s popularity and easy access
Variable sandbars that can create shallow sections
Pier-related hazards near the structure
Can get heavy and closeout-prone when swell gets too large

Local vibe

Ocean Beach has a laid-back, old-school surf culture. The pier area is a well-known local surf zone, and conditions can go from playful to serious quickly. It’s a spot that rewards good timing and wave selection.

General summary

OB Pier is a fun, highly accessible San Diego surf break that can deliver quality beach-break surfing when swell, sand, and wind align. It’s best approached with awareness of crowds, currents, and changing conditions.