Overview

Shell Beach is a kitesurfing spot located on California's central coast, near Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County. This clifftop coastal spot offers a spectacular setting with rock formations and Pacific waves. Northwest thermal winds are powerful in the afternoon. The spot is suited for advanced riders due to cliffs, rocks, and difficult water access.

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Spot forecast for Shell Beach

Sunrise 07:13 · Sunset 18:21

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 4.8 km from the spot.

Monday 19 October High tide 07:22 · 1.7 m Low tide 12:07 · 1.4 m High tide 17:22 · 1.8 m
Tuesday 20 October Low tide 00:41 · 0.7 m High tide 07:43 · 1.8 m Low tide 13:05 · 1.3 m High tide 18:27 · 1.8 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 01:18 · 0.7 m High tide 08:02 · 1.9 m Low tide 13:49 · 1.1 m High tide 19:22 · 1.8 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 01:50 · 0.7 m High tide 08:21 · 2 m Low tide 14:27 · 1 m High tide 20:12 · 1.8 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 02:20 · 0.8 m High tide 08:40 · 2.1 m Low tide 15:04 · 0.8 m High tide 21:01 · 1.8 m

Shell Beach: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

144h

in March · 25 rideable days

The season runs from February to June, peaking in March: 21 rideable days a month and 144 hours of usable wind, at 19 °C. The low point is December, at 8.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 91%13-20 knots · 9%21-30 knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 91% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 16 °C. The wettest month is February, with 91 mm.

Monthly averages: Shell Beach

Monthly averages — Shell Beach — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	12.0	67 h	16 °C	26 mm
February	18.0	99 h	17 °C	91 mm
March	25.0	144 h	17 °C	67 mm
April	22.0	133 h	18 °C	44 mm
May	22.0	137 h	20 °C	2 mm
June	15.5	92 h	21 °C	0 mm
July	13.5	72 h	22 °C	0 mm
August	9.0	49 h	25 °C	0 mm
September	10.5	60 h	23 °C	2 mm
October	10.5	57 h	22 °C	11 mm
November	11.0	61 h	18 °C	56 mm
December	8.5	48 h	18 °C	39 mm

Photo gallery of Shell Beach

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Technical details of Shell Beach spot

The spot works with winds from N, S, SSW, SW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Advanced

On the water

Ocean spot with waves of 0.5 to 2m depending on swell. Water is cool (12-17°C/54-63°F), a 4/3 or 3/2 wetsuit is recommended. Mixed rocky and sandy bottom with reefs. Drift currents along the cliffs. Frequent kelp offshore. Waves can be powerful when northwest swells are strong.

Hazards

Cliffs and rocks — difficult and dangerous water access. Numerous submerged reefs in the riding area. Dense kelp that can tangle in lines. Drift currents and rip currents. Cool water requiring a full wetsuit. Frequent coastal fog. Sharks present in the area. Shore break on rocks during swell days.

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Live

San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County-Mc Chesney Field9.3 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

GW6598 GROVER BEACH9.4 km

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source noaa
Pismo Beach8.1 km

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Webcams near Shell Beach

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: California

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Shell Beach kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot