Surf spot

Sand Island

Forecast conditions and map view for Sand Island in USA, Gulf Coast, Alabama. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, Gulf Coast, Alabama
Coordinates: 30.2294, -88.1184

Metric
Metric	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	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.3	0.7	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8
Wave direction	SE	SSE	SSE	S	S	S	SSE	SSE	S	S	SSW	S	S	SSW	S	S	S	S	SSE	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSE	SSE	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE
Wave period (s)	3	3.1	3.4	3.3	3.4	3.6	3.6	3.4	3.1	3	2.5	2.6	2.6	2.5	6.1	6.2	6	5.3	3.9	5.6	5.8	5.5	5.2	4.9	4.7	4.5	4.5	4.3	4.8	5	5	4.9	4.8	4.1	4	3.9	5.4	5.1	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.6	5.7	3.8	3.5	3.8	4.5	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.5	4.7	4.7	4.5	4.7
Wave energy (kJ)	1	9	7	7	6	4	3	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	10	12	11	11	16	20	19	23	28	29	25
Wind speed (km/h)	17.3	17.7	22.5	12.8	9.7	18.8	12.6	13.7	17.2	13.2	9.8	9.7	13	14.5	10.7	12.7	12.3	11.5	8.4	6.9	15.3	13.9	9.8	11	9.1	5.6	8.1	4.5	10.2	12.1	8.9	6.5	4.2	3.4	6.9	4.5	10.3	7.3	8.7	4.5	9.4	9.8	11	16.2	16.8	16.8	7	8.4	3.6	6.1	7.3	9.7	9.7	14.9	7.4	5.9
Wind direction	SCross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	NWCross	SWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWCross-on	SWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	WCross-on	WCross-on	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWCross-on	NWCross-off	NNWGlassy	SCross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWGlassy	WNWGlassy	NWCross-off	NNEGlassy	SECross-on	SCross-on	SCross-on	SSEGlassy	ECross-off	ECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	SECross	SECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	EGlassy	NNEOffshore	NOffshore	NEOffshore	ESECross	SSECross-on	WSWCross-on	NEOffshore

Sand Island (Alabama Gulf Coast, USA) is a remote surf spot near the mouth of Mobile Bay, offshore from Dauphin Island in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s one of the more unusual wave breaks on the Alabama coast because it’s influenced by open-Gulf swells more than the sheltered beaches nearby.

What it’s like

Break type: Mostly a sandbar/reef-influenced break around the island and nearby shoals
Wave quality: Can be fun when conditions line up, but it’s very inconsistent
Best swell direction: Generally works best with S to SW Gulf swell
Wind: Light offshore to cross-offshore is usually preferred; strong onshore winds can make it messy
Tide: Tidal movement can affect sandbars and wave shape a lot

Conditions

Wave size: Usually small to moderate; bigger swells are possible during Gulf storms or hurricanes, but those conditions can be dangerous
Water: Warm most of the year, so board shorts or a spring suit often work depending on season
Seabed: Sandy bottom with shifting bars, so the peak can move around

Access and setting

Sand Island is relatively remote and exposed, so reaching it may require a boat or special access depending on exact location and conditions.
The spot can be affected by currents, marine traffic, and rapidly changing weather, so it’s not a casual beginner-friendly setup in rough conditions.

Crowd and atmosphere

Usually uncrowded compared with more accessible beach breaks
The vibe is more adventure/local mission than everyday surf session

Best for

Experienced surfers who can read shifting sandbars
Surfers looking for novelty and solitude
Small-group missions when Gulf conditions are favorable

Caution

Because this is a Gulf Coast spot, conditions can change quickly and storms can make it hazardous. It’s worth checking local reports, tides, weather, and access rules before heading out.