BEACH & SEA FLOOR GUIDE // Southwest Coast (Sun Belt)Advanced / Barrels

Paul do Mar — Reef Mechanics, Channels & Wind Shadow

Dedicated 24/7 live camera pointing directly at the Paul do Mar harbor point. On WNW swells over 13s period, long hollow barrel sections peel past the pier.

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

Advanced / Barrels · Max 4.5m

Swell: 1.5m – 3.8m

SWELL WINDOW

WNW / W (265° – 310°)

Angle: 265° – 310°

WIND SHADOW & SHELTER

NE / E / ENE (Offshore Direto pelas Falésias) (Offshore)

Trade Wind & Orographic Shelter

SUBSTRATE & DEPTH

Shallow Volcanic Cobblestones & Ledge

Fast Hollow Right over Shallow Reef Shelf

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

Swell: 318° (NW) · Wind: 55° (NE)

HYDROGRAPHIC REFRACTION, TAKEOFF & EXIT CHANNEL PROFILE

Beach & Reef Bottom Profile

Wave Dynamics (Point Break): Long-period groundswell trains (13s+) undergo immediate refraction upon contacting the submarine volcanic shelf, concentrating 115 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

Use the southern fishing harbor channel for clean exits; exit before tide reaches 1.58m when backwash rebounds off the seawall.

Max High Tide: {tide}m: 1.58m•Min Low Tide: {tide}m: 0.45m

2. LOCAL WATER HAZARDS