UK & Ireland

Your next session starts here.

· BestSwell product update

The same sea can mean a very different session for different surfers.

BestSwell now lets you choose a surf profile beside the forecast. Learning, Developing, Confident and Experienced profiles explain what each selection means. General conditions keeps the underlying forecast quality rating available.

Quality and personal match

Your match uses the general quality score, estimated breaking-surf size and available wave period. It reduces the rating when the estimated size falls outside the selected preference range; it does not raise the model score. You can set your own upper size preference. These ranges describe preferences, not qualifications or safe limits.

The hourly cards, daily summaries and Best near me rankings use the same adjustment. Open the rating breakdown to see the original general score and the reasons for your match.

Keep your preferences

Saving or dismissing the surf-profile setup remembers your current choice on this browser, unless you have switched device remembering off in Settings. A verified account saves beaches and preferences across signed-in devices. Your location remains in browser memory when you choose Use my location.

A calmer interface

Five new logo-inspired marine themes are available as Default potential 1–5 in Appearance. The wave logo retains its brand colours. North Sea in dark mode remains the starting theme while we try the alternatives.

What is still being prepared?

Condition-report submissions and email surf-alert delivery are not active yet. Choosing favourite beaches and optional email-alert preferences helps prepare your account for those features; it does not mean alerts are being sent.

Read the forecast guide · All updates

Day cards show remaining daylight surf ranges and early / midday / late wind samples. Colours show surf quality. Arrows show travel; compass labels show where wind and waves come from.

LESS SEARCHING. MORE SURFING.

Best near you

Compare the next daylight windows.

YOUR NEXT SESSION

Find a surf spot

Find beaches nearest to you.

MAKE IT YOURS

Colours & appearance

Light or dark

Choose a palette or mode to preview the page clearly for two seconds.

BestSwell logo palette

Try 25 complete themes

Changes appear instantly and are saved when device remembering is enabled in Settings. System follows your device’s light or dark setting.

BEHIND YOUR FORECAST

How this rating is built

—/100—

The beach’s wave-size profile provides the base. Period, wind, tide and chop adjust it; the forecasting engine then applies its caps and rounding.

Swell direction is already reflected in the beach’s estimated breaking surf. Forecast confidence is a separate measure from surf quality.

Read the colours

0FlatNo rated surf.
1–29Very poorThe lowest quality band.
30–49Poor → fairConditions have significant limitations.
50–69Fair → goodMixed conditions; check the limiting factors.
70–89Good → very goodA promising quality forecast.
90–100Good to epic → epicOur forecasting engine’s highest quality bands.

Colours describe forecast quality, not safety or suitability for your ability. Scores use our forecasting engine’s existing rating × 10; this display does not add prediction precision.

A LITTLE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Help & FAQ

Language

Language follows your browser on first visit. You can change it here. New languages currently cover core controls and forecast labels; detailed help and explanations may remain in English.

Interface and help text are translated. Beach names, model names and some source descriptions stay as supplied.

Settings

Sea level stays in metres relative to mean sea level. Units change the display, not the forecast.

Your device, your choice

Favourites, surf profile, units, language and appearance use browser storage when enabled. Your location is used in memory and is not saved or sent to our server.

Privacy & device storage

About BestSwell

Forecast & service status

Share this session

This opens the selected beach and hour using the latest available forecast. Predictions may change after an update.

YOUR SURF, YOUR PREFERENCES

Make the forecast yours

Pick the description closest to your experience. We adjust the general quality score for estimated surf size and available swell period. Choose general conditions to keep the original rating, or change your choice at any time.

Your experience

Choose your own maximum estimated breaking-surf height. Override the suggested upper size for your experience level if you prefer.

Size is only one part of a session. These preferences do not assess rips, reefs, local hazards or whether conditions are safe for you. Your match rating combines general forecast quality with estimated size and available period; it does not assess safety.

WELCOME TO BESTSWELL

Welcome back

Sign in to keep your favourite beaches and preferences together.