Less clicking around. More getting it.

No. Browse the map, Coast Guide and Surf Insights without an account. Sign in only for optional features such as syncing favorites or account-linked alerts. Surf Insights has no paywall or email gate.

No. Original forecast-enabled spots show estimated breaking-face heights. The newer statewide panels show regional significant wave height, labeled “regional Hs.” The same color scale does not make these the same measurement. Read the methods page for the distinction.

No. The atlas brings together updated model guidance and separate reference observations. A timestamp and source label tell you what was retrieved or measured and when. A nearby buoy is not a beach camera or a sensor attached to the pin.

Local journal text, personal pin edits, sessions and plans are not silently uploaded to your account. Cloud favorites are separate. Explicitly importing or merging favorites can change your account’s saved spots, while the other journal records remain local.

Use Export field notes or the Field Journal export controls. Keep the downloaded file private. It is not a complete export of cloud alert rules, account inbox or device subscriptions. Export before clearing site data or moving to another browser.

Product updates are controlled in My account. Alert emails and account rules are controlled in My alerts. Remove a device there and use your browser/operating-system notification settings as needed. A separate older device watch may need to be disconnected separately. Signing out is not the same as stopping all email.

Account deletion is currently owner-assisted. Use the privacy contact, preferably from your registered email. Do not send passwords or login codes. Deleting the account does not automatically erase local field notes or copies you exported.

Traffic Stability pauses automatic polling after inactivity and while the tab is hidden. Use Resume or interact with the map. A request allowance or provider cooldown can also pause fresh tiles; Refresh does not override that limit. Missing road colors mean unknown coverage, not clear traffic.

Sources can fail independently, go stale or lack coverage. Regional data is not available at every time or location. Camera links depend on the operator’s viewer. Check the source/status details rather than assuming a missing reading means zero.

Yes. Send the name, region and specific correction, with firsthand context or a source. Ratings describe general guide difficulty, not today’s safety. Unverified ratings remain neutral, and a submission is reviewed before it changes the shared catalogue.

Use the searchable California Coast Guide, or go directly to Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Cruz or the statewide San Diego additions. Each entry links back into the map.