San Nicolas Island, CA - Live Wave Heights & Surf Conditions

About San Nicolas Island, CA Buoy

The San Nicolas Island, CA buoy is jointly supported by the NOAA National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) and the Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It continuously measures swell height, wave period, direction, and marine weather for mariners near California. This data supports safe navigation, surf forecasting, weather modeling, and coastal research around California.

The Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography uses this site to capture detailed coastal wave spectra for engineering and research.

Data Applications

• Surfers: Track swell height, period, and direction to time sessions and compare nearby breaks.
• Mariners: Monitor sea state and wave energy for safer transits and offshore operations.
• Weather forecasters: Analyze storm-driven waves and ocean-atmosphere interactions for regional forecasts.
• Researchers: Study long-term wave climate trends, coastal erosion, and renewable energy potential.