South Africa · Africa
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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Gordon's Bay. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical early July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
The best week for surf at Gordon's Bay is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Moderate swell providing fun waves for a session. Heavy offshore making for difficult paddle-outs but textbook faces.
Heads up: cold-shock risk.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
Air quality is currently 138% worse than the average comparison city.
Air quality is currently worse than a typical city. Consider shorter outdoor sessions.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 21:00
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Gordon's Bay is a sheltered swimming venue on False Bay near Cape Town, South Africa, used primarily for open water swimming and triathlon training. The bay offers calm, protected waters sheltered from the prevailing south-easterly winds, making it one of the Cape's most reliable flat-water venues. The mountain backdrop and the view across False Bay towards the Hottentots Holland Mountains create a scenic setting for ocean training.
Calm conditions for swimming are most reliable during summer (November-March) when the south-east wind keeps the surface smooth. Winter storms can make the bay choppy. Early mornings provide the calmest water year-round.
Swimmers use the main beach and the tidal pool as entry points. The open water route extends along the coastline towards Bikini Beach. Stay within sight of shore and away from the harbour entrance.
Great white sharks are present in False Bay, though Gordon's Bay is less frequently patrolled by sharks than Muizenberg further north. Cold water (14-19C) requires a wetsuit for extended swims. Boat traffic near the harbour. Kelp beds along the coast.
Car park at the main beach. The beach is flat and accessible. Changing facilities and showers available. The town of Gordon's Bay has full services. Cape Town is a 45-minute drive.
Popular with swimming clubs and triathletes, particularly on weekend mornings. The water is shared between swimmers, kayakers, and occasional small craft. The community is friendly and safety-conscious.
A wetsuit (3/2mm minimum) is needed year-round for extended swims. Swim with a group and use a brightly coloured swim cap for visibility. Check the Shark Spotters app for any reported sightings in False Bay. The water is warmest from January to March (up to 19C). Join one of the established swim groups for local knowledge and safety.
Surf at Gordon's Bay
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Gordon's Bay
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Gordon's Bay tend to be best between 08:00 to 11:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 53/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go →Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 31 days of logged conditions.
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