Waimea Rules

The history of surfing has a unique entry for Waimea Bay. The famous Hawaiian surf site is considered the dawn of big wave riding.

Waimea Bay is a legendary surf spot located on the North Shore of Oahu.

It is a hectic and dangerous place during winter and a quiet portrait of the Hawaiian ocean life during summer.

Welcome to “The Bay,” a surf break known for its mammoth waves and death-defying rides.

The waves break in front of Waimea Bay Beach Park, just 300 yards west of Kamehameha Highway.

The world-renowned big wave surf spot comes to life during Hawaiian winter (November to April) when long-period, deep water NW swells suddenly hit the local lava shelf located 100 meters off of the northern headland.

A classic big wave surfing day at Waimea Bay traditionally gets from good to great during medium tide and with light ESE trade winds.

Waves in the 20-foot plus Hawaiian scale always attract dozens of local and foreign swell hunters eager to stamp their mark and authority in this historical surfing location.

The Waimea Bay wave is known for testing surfers’ eagerness to stamp airdrop take-off skills, but it is also known for its choppy slopes and heavy whitewater mountains.

If you’re lucky enough to escape these rolling beasts, you will still have to face the famous shore break with its pound lips.

Paddling in and out is extremely tricky, and the rip currents are powerful, so surfers need to time their movements between sets to avoid obliteration.

The shoreline is also tricky because it drops off quickly from shallow to 20-foot-plus deep waters.

Waimea Bay is a spectator-friendly big wave surfing spot.

When the surf’s up at Waimea Bay, fans and media professionals can easily witness and capture the intensity of the breaking waves from a close distance.

During high surf warnings, waves might roll past the rocks and boulders and reach the roadside above.