Thermopylae
Edit SpotAbout
When the swell is big, and the south-wester is a-blowin, this is the place to go. Remember - it's a high-tide spot, so make sure you are on top of the tides.
Atmosphere:
The atmosphere here is quite easy going. Requiring big swells, the spot does not break all that often, and it does not have a strong local element.
Additional Info:
Thermo's faces North. This protects it from the predominantly south-west swell, so it only works when the swell is somewhere between big and huge. This also makes it, along with Kommetjie's Long Beach, one of very few spots that works on a south west wind.
Generally, if the swell is 12 ft, Thermo's is 6 ft, and so on.
The paddle out is pretty easy - just jump in and go out over the reef - the only problem is that the kelp will sometimes make it hard to progress.
Thermo's is a long, powerful, left breaking rollercoaster of a wave - by far the longest ride of any of the city breaks. The takeoff is right behind the shipwreck, and is not for the fainthearted.
If you want a more mellow surf, just sit 30m down from there and you won't need to contend with colliding with anything on takeoff. The reef is so long that you can sit almost anywhere and still get a long ride.
When Thermo's is in the 3-6ft range, is an easy, fun wave for all surfers.
On bigger days, this is a truly thrilling wave, with plenty of power.
The wave tends to break in sections, which are typically makable, offering exciting moments as you charge down the reef.
Way down at the end of the reef there are a few shallow rocks to watch out for, and be careful not to get caught against the concrete breakwater down there - not pleasant!
On those freak 15-20ft swells be careful. Despite Thermo's getting less of the swell, strong currents start up at that size, and it's not hard to get swept into the concrete breakwater at the end of the wave, or to get into trouble getting back in.
Location
Loading...Access
Drive down to Moulle Point, which is the area just west of the Victoria and Alfred waterfront development. If you are facing the sea, Thermo's is the last beach on your left, right next to Granger bay. It's recognizable by a metal object sitting out at sea, about 100m from the beach. This is the only remaining part of the Thermopylae shipwreck.
| Walk | Instant access (<5 min) |
|---|---|
| Public access | Yes |
| 4x4 required | Unknown |
| Boat required | Unknown |
Wave Characteristics
| Type | Reef (rocky) |
|---|---|
| Direction | Left |
| Bottom | Reef (coral, sharp rocks etc.) |
| Power | Powerful, Fun |
| Frequency | Sometimes breaks (50 days/year) |
| Normal length | Short (<50m) |
| Good day length | Long (150 to 300m) |
Ideal Conditions
| Wind direction | SouthWest, South |
|---|---|
| Swell direction | West, SouthWest, South |
| Swell size | 6ft-8ft - 12ft |
| Tide | High tide only |
| Tide movement | Rising and falling tides |
Crowd
| Week | Few surfers |
|---|---|
| Weekend | Few surfers |
Dangers
Rocks
Videos
None
Nearby spots
0.28 miles away
| Direction: | Right and left |
| Bottom: | Sandy with rock |
| Frequency: | Regular (100 days/year) |
2.27 miles away
| Direction: | Left |
| Bottom: | Reef (coral, sharp rocks etc.) |
| Frequency: | Don't know |
3.16 miles away
| Direction: | Left |
| Bottom: | Flat rocks |
| Frequency: | Regular (100 days/year) |