Orange County with NOAA buoys
Read KSL buoy pairs without mistaking offshore evidence for a beach guarantee.
Read guideKnow before you paddle out.
Real-time ocean datafor better surf sessions.
Know before you paddle out with live buoy observations, wave period, direction, wind and custom alerts.
NOAA real observations
Open-Meteo model coverage
Alerts when conditions match
Real observations, not just forecasts.
Use recent buoy and station data when available, then compare it with model points where real instruments do not cover the coast.
One number changes everything: wave period.
Period helps separate weak wind sea from organized swell, so you can understand why the same height can surf completely differently.
Custom alerts when conditions match.
Save favorite buoys or model points and let SwellOracle watch for the height, period and rhythm that matter to your session.
Learn before you interpret.
Check the source and timestamp, then combine the offshore signal with coastal exposure, wind, tide and official warnings.
Original editorial content
Editorial guides for real decisions
Applied readings that connect ocean data, source limits and local context.
Central Chile surf data
Translate regional context across Pichilemu, Punta de Lobos and Reñaca with local judgement.
Read guideCan I trust this reading?
Evaluate source, timing, coherence and local confirmation before making a decision.
Read guideStart with height, period and direction
Height describes how much wave energy is observed or estimated at the measurement point, but it does not tell the whole story at the beach. Period helps separate organized swell from wind sea, and direction decides which coasts receive that energy.
SwellOracle treats those signals as a set. They become useful when compared with local exposure, tide, wind and coastal shape.
NOAA/NDBC buoys as real-world confirmation
Many public NOAA/NDBC stations provide direct observations from the ocean. When a buoy reports wave height, period and direction, it can confirm whether a swell has actually arrived offshore.
Not every station is equally useful for surf. Some are DART, weather-only or missing wave variables. SwellOracle separates those sources so favorites and alerts use data that makes sense for surf decisions.
Marine models where buoys are sparse
Many surf regions do not have a nearby wave buoy. To cover those gaps, SwellOracle uses marine model points that estimate primary swell, secondary swell, wind wave, height, period and direction.
Models should not replace a reliable observation when a good buoy exists nearby, but they are valuable for Chile, Central America, islands and coasts with limited instrument coverage.
Alerts so you do not watch the ocean all day
Alerts let you define height and period thresholds for a favorite buoy or model point. On premium, the backend can evaluate those conditions and notify you by email or WhatsApp when they are met.
Notification frequency matters too: once per swell episode, once per day, or every 12 hours can prevent repeated messages during a long event.
Practical takeaway
Start by learning the signals; when you are ready to monitor your own spots, open the app and save your favorites.