How to read a surf report, what wave heights mean at Cocoa Beach, the best swell directions and what conditions are right for beginners.
The surf report says 2-3 feet with a 10-second period from the northeast. This means different things to a beginner and an experienced surfer. Here is the translation.
Florida surf is measured differently than Hawaiian or California surf. "2-3 feet" at Cocoa Beach is measured face height — the face of the wave as it breaks, roughly waist to chest high. This is the standard East Coast measurement. A 2-3 foot day at Cocoa Beach is a perfectly fun beginner to intermediate day with clean waves that break consistently.
Cocoa Beach faces due east. A northeast swell hits the beach at a slight angle, producing faster, more powerful waves. An east swell hits directly, producing slower, more mushy waves that are better for beginners. A southeast swell is the rare good one — it approaches from the best angle for right-hand (southbound) waves on the Pier area breaks.
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