BEACH & SEA FLOOR GUIDE // Silver Coast · LeiriaExpert / Big Wave & Heavy Beachbreak

Nazaré · Praia do Norte — Reef Mechanics, Channels & Wind Shadow

Refraction over the Nazaré Canyon multiplies long-period (> 15s) WNW swell height by 2x to 3x compared to adjacent beaches.

TAKEOFF CAUTION: STEEP DROP OVER SHALLOW BOTTOM. WATCH YOUR DEPTH ON WIPEOUTS.

Expert / Big Wave & Heavy Beachbreak · Max 25m

Swell: 1.5m – 18m

SWELL WINDOW

WNW / NW (285° – 325°)

Angle: 285° – 325°

WIND SHADOW & SHELTER

E / SE / ENE (Offshore Direto do Promontório) (Offshore)

Trade Wind & Orographic Shelter

SUBSTRATE & DEPTH

Deep-Water Sandbars off Fort São Miguel Arcanjo

Submarine Canyon Amplified Giant A-Frame Beachbreak

SWELL CAPTURE (BLUE) & WIND SHADOW (EMERALD) COMPASS

Swell: 244° (WSW) · Wind: 95° (E)

HYDROGRAPHIC REFRACTION, TAKEOFF & EXIT CHANNEL PROFILE

Beach & Reef Bottom Profile

Wave Dynamics (Beach Break): Long-period groundswell trains (12s+) undergo immediate refraction upon contacting the submarine volcanic shelf, concentrating 2195 kJ of wave energy onto the takeoff bowl while peeling cleanly. The adjacent entry channel drains water smoothly without dragging surfers into the impact zone.

1. GOLDEN ENTRY & EXIT PROTOCOL

Up to 2.0m it offers world-class heavy paddle-in barrels; above 3.5m the littoral rip and shorebreak require jet-ski water safety or viewing from Fort São Miguel Arcanjo.

Max High Tide: {tide}m: 3.20m•Min Low Tide: {tide}m: 0.40m

2. LOCAL WATER HAZARDS