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 DANGER & HOLD

Advanced / Barrels · Máx 4.5m

Swell: 1.5m – 3.8m

SWELL WINDOW

WNW / W (265° – 310°)

Angle: 265° – 310°

WIND SHADOW

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

Trade Wind & Orographic Shelter

BOTTOM SUBSTRATE

Shallow Volcanic Cobblestones & Ledge

Fast Hollow Right over Shallow Reef Shelf

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

Swell: 301° (WNW) · Vento: 55° (NE)

HYDROGRAPHIC REFRACTION, TAKEOFF & EXIT CHANNEL PROFILE

Beach & Reef Bottom Profile

Wave Dynamics (Fast Hollow Right over Shallow Reef Shelf): Long-period groundswell trains (10s+) undergo immediate refraction upon contacting the submarine volcanic shelf, concentrating 90 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: 1.58m•Min Low Tide: 0.45m

2. LOCAL WATER HAZARDS