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

Ponta Pequena — Reef Mechanics, Channels & Wind Shadow

Less crowded than Jardim do Mar with a steeper pocket for vertical turns, but demands strict attention to the 1.40m cliff-path tide gate.

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

Advanced · Max 3.8m

Swell: 1.5m – 3.2m

SWELL WINDOW

WNW / NW (280° – 320°)

Angle: 280° – 320°

WIND SHADOW & SHELTER

N / NE / ENE (Offshore Abrigado) (Offshore)

Trade Wind & Orographic Shelter

SUBSTRATE & DEPTH

Cliff-Base Volcanic Boulder Shelf

Mechanical Steep Right-Hand Pointbreak

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

Swell: 235° (SW) · Wind: 50° (NE)

HYDROGRAPHIC REFRACTION, TAKEOFF & EXIT CHANNEL PROFILE

Beach & Reef Bottom Profile

Wave Dynamics (Point Break): Long-period groundswell trains (10s+) undergo immediate refraction upon contacting the submarine volcanic shelf, concentrating 2270 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

GOLDEN RULE: The cliff-base boulder footpath floods above 1.40m tide. Begin walking back at least 40 minutes before tide hits 1.40m, or paddle down to Paul do Mar harbor.

Max High Tide: {tide}m: 1.40m•Min Low Tide: {tide}m: 0.40m

2. LOCAL WATER HAZARDS