Overview

Tube Wave is an expert reef break on the Melkbosstrand coast, known for its barreling waves breaking on a shallow rocky reef. It's one of the most committed wave riding spots on Cape Town's north coast. The south-easterly Cape Doctor blows side-offshore, smoothing the waves and creating rare barrel conditions. As the name suggests, the spot is famous for its tubes. Reserved exclusively for experts proficient in wave riding in committed conditions.

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Spot forecast for Tube Wave

Sunrise 05:58 · Sunset 19:03

Open-Meteo

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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 2.9 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October Low tide 05:00 · 0.7 m High tide 11:26 · 1.2 m Low tide 17:53 · 0.7 m High tide 23:48 · 1.2 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 05:55 · 0.6 m High tide 12:12 · 1.3 m Low tide 18:34 · 0.5 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 00:34 · 1.3 m Low tide 06:35 · 0.5 m High tide 12:47 · 1.5 m Low tide 19:08 · 0.4 m
Friday 23 October High tide 01:11 · 1.4 m Low tide 07:09 · 0.4 m High tide 13:20 · 1.6 m Low tide 19:39 · 0.3 m
Saturday 24 October High tide 01:45 · 1.5 m Low tide 07:42 · 0.3 m High tide 13:52 · 1.7 m Low tide 20:11 · 0.2 m

Tube Wave: 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

216h

in November · 22.5 rideable days

The season runs from September to April, peaking in November: 16 rideable days a month and 216 hours of usable wind, at 25 °C. The low point is July, at 2.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 55%13-20 knots · 42%21-30 knots · 3%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 55% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is July, at 16 °C. The wettest month is July, with 177 mm.

Monthly averages: Tube Wave

Monthly averages — Tube Wave — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	14.0	126 h	27 °C	4 mm
February	14.5	145 h	27 °C	3 mm
March	15.5	111 h	26 °C	34 mm
April	15.0	108 h	24 °C	16 mm
May	6.5	36 h	21 °C	34 mm
June	5.0	29 h	18 °C	80 mm
July	2.5	18 h	16 °C	177 mm
August	3.5	16 h	17 °C	71 mm
September	13.5	107 h	20 °C	19 mm
October	15.5	140 h	23 °C	12 mm
November	22.5	216 h	27 °C	6 mm
December	16.5	142 h	26 °C	9 mm

Photo gallery of Tube Wave

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Technical details of Tube Wave spot

The spot works with winds from SE, SSE, S.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot functioning

Works with good southwest swell and moderate SE Cape Doctor. Best at mid-tide — at low tide the reef is too exposed, at high tide waves lose their barrel shape. Conditions rarely perfect — when it works, it's exceptional. Expert spot only.

Spot opening date · Required level

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

On the water

Cold water (12-16°C), 5/3 wetsuit recommended. Barreling waves breaking on a very shallow reef (30-80 cm of water). Extremely dangerous in case of falls. Violent currents. Kelp.

Parking

Parking along Otto du Plessis Drive. Short walk to the spot. No infrastructure. Don't leave valuables.

Wind specificities

SE Cape Doctor in side-offshore, creating ideal conditions for clean barreling waves. Wind of 15 to 30 knots for the best tube conditions. In too strong wind (30+), conditions become too committed.

Hazards

EXTREME DANGER: very shallow reef with powerful barreling waves. Risk of serious injuries (cuts, fractures, drowning). Offshore wind that can push out to sea. Violent currents. Kelp. Cold water. Isolated spot without lifeguards. Reserved exclusively for experts. Never ride alone.

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In memory of Patrice23.8 kmsource holfuy.com

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Additional stations

In23.8 km

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source gowind
ZA Seapoint 0m21.3 km

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source pgsonda.cz

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Webcams near Tube Wave

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Nearby spots

All spots: Western Cape

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Tube Wave kitesurf and windsurf spot