CALIFORNIA / VenturaSPOT / 765

Ventura Overhead.

Outer reef

A-frame / left & right34.283° N / 119.320° W

Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate Ventura Overhead catalogue location — Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
Powered by Esri · Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community.

Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Open Ventura Overhead on the map ↗Best surf near me

Forecast & tide at a glance

Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.

Estimated surf face0.2 ftForecast for Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific

Coastal wind7.0 mphSSW from

NOAA tide reference1.7 ftMLLW · Santa Barbara

READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS

Swell by swell.

Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.

Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific

MFWAM · 2 components

Primary swell

1.8ft Hs

SSW from · 212° · 10.0 s

1.8 feet

Wind sea

0.0ft Hs

No energy reported for this component

0.0 feet

GFS · all-zero feed unconfirmed

This model reports only zeros across its cached partition forecast while another model reports swell. This is not confirmation of flat surf. Check the other source or try refreshing later.

Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.

Coastal wind retrieved Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Oct 22, 1:00pm · ECMWF Oct 22, 12:30pm · MFWAM Oct 22, 12:30pm. Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Tide predictions: Santa Barbara, 37 km reference; retrieved Thu Oct 22, 12:45pm. Station predictions can differ locally.

Seven-day overview

06:00–19:00 forecast hours; daily values are not a full-day maximum.
Pacific day	Estimated surf face	Mean wind	Hours available
Thu Oct 22	0.2 ft	5.4 mph	14/14
Fri Oct 23	1.5 ft	5.8 mph	14/14
Sat Oct 24	1.4 ft	5.3 mph	14/14
Sun Oct 25	0.5 ft	4.3 mph	14/14
Mon Oct 26	0.7 ft	4.6 mph	14/14
Tue Oct 27	1.2 ft	3.2 mph	14/14
Wed Oct 28	1.1 ft	3.8 mph	14/14

Hourly details · next 72 hours

Pacific time	Estimated surf face	Model range	Set proxy	Swell from	Wind	Tide MLLW	Models
Thu 1:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.3 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.7 s	7.0 mph SSW	1.7 ft	2
Thu 2:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.3 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.7 s	8.4 mph SSW	1.5 ft	2
Thu 3:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.3 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.7 s	6.5 mph SW	1.7 ft	2
Thu 4:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.3 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.7 s	5.4 mph WNW	2.3 ft	2
Thu 5:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.3 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.8 s	10.8 mph W	3.1 ft	2
Thu 6:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.3 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.8 s	9.7 mph W	3.9 ft	2
Thu 7:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.4 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.7 s	6.0 mph WNW	4.5 ft	2
Thu 8:00pm	0.2 ft	0.1–0.4 ft	0.3 ft	SW · 9.6 s	5.9 mph NW	4.6 ft	2
Thu 9:00pm	0.3 ft	0.1–0.5 ft	0.4 ft	SW · 9.5 s	2.1 mph E	4.4 ft	2
Thu 10:00pm	0.3 ft	0.1–0.6 ft	0.5 ft	WSW · 9.2 s	2.6 mph W	3.6 ft	2
Thu 11:00pm	0.4 ft	0.1–0.6 ft	0.5 ft	WSW · 9.1 s	3.3 mph WNW	2.7 ft	2
Fri 12:00am	0.4 ft	0.1–0.7 ft	0.6 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	2.8 mph W	1.8 ft	2
Fri 1:00am	0.4 ft	0.1–0.8 ft	0.7 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	3.5 mph ENE	1.1 ft	2
Fri 2:00am	0.5 ft	0.1–0.9 ft	0.8 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	5.8 mph E	0.8 ft	2
Fri 3:00am	0.5 ft	0.1–1.0 ft	0.8 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	5.1 mph ENE	1.1 ft	2
Fri 4:00am	0.6 ft	0.1–1.1 ft	0.9 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	4.7 mph NE	1.8 ft	2
Fri 5:00am	0.7 ft	0.2–1.2 ft	1.0 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	5.5 mph NE	2.9 ft	2
Fri 6:00am	0.8 ft	0.2–1.3 ft	1.2 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	5.3 mph NE	4.0 ft	2
Fri 7:00am	0.9 ft	0.3–1.5 ft	1.3 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	5.7 mph ENE	4.8 ft	2
Fri 8:00am	1.0 ft	0.4–1.6 ft	1.5 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	6.1 mph ENE	5.3 ft	2
Fri 9:00am	1.1 ft	0.5–1.7 ft	1.7 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	6.9 mph ENE	5.2 ft	2
Fri 10:00am	1.3 ft	0.6–1.9 ft	1.9 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	4.7 mph E	4.5 ft	2
Fri 11:00am	1.4 ft	0.8–2.0 ft	2.1 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	2.9 mph ESE	3.6 ft	2
Fri 12:00pm	1.5 ft	1.0–2.1 ft	2.3 ft	W · 9.0 s	3.1 mph WSW	2.4 ft	2
Fri 1:00pm	1.6 ft	1.1–2.1 ft	2.3 ft	W · 8.9 s	6.6 mph WSW	1.5 ft	2
Fri 2:00pm	1.7 ft	1.2–2.1 ft	2.5 ft	W · 8.8 s	6.9 mph WSW	0.9 ft	2
Fri 3:00pm	1.8 ft	1.3–2.3 ft	2.6 ft	W · 8.4 s	7.6 mph W	0.9 ft	2
Fri 4:00pm	1.9 ft	1.3–2.4 ft	2.8 ft	W · 8.0 s	9.2 mph W	1.3 ft	2
Fri 5:00pm	2.0 ft	1.4–2.5 ft	3.0 ft	W · 7.7 s	7.5 mph W	2.1 ft	2
Fri 6:00pm	2.0 ft	1.5–2.6 ft	3.0 ft	W · 7.6 s	7.2 mph W	3.1 ft	2
Fri 7:00pm	2.1 ft	1.5–2.7 ft	3.1 ft	W · 7.7 s	1.8 mph WNW	4.0 ft	2
Fri 8:00pm	2.2 ft	1.6–2.8 ft	3.3 ft	W · 7.8 s	4.5 mph ENE	4.5 ft	2
Fri 9:00pm	2.2 ft	1.7–2.7 ft	3.3 ft	W · 7.9 s	6.7 mph ENE	4.6 ft	2
Fri 10:00pm	2.2 ft	1.6–2.7 ft	3.3 ft	W · 8.1 s	5.3 mph NE	4.2 ft	2
Fri 11:00pm	2.2 ft	1.7–2.7 ft	3.3 ft	W · 8.3 s	4.8 mph NE	3.4 ft	2
Sat 12:00am	2.1 ft	1.7–2.5 ft	3.2 ft	W · 8.5 s	5.3 mph ENE	2.4 ft	2
Sat 1:00am	2.1 ft	1.7–2.5 ft	3.1 ft	W · 8.7 s	4.8 mph NE	1.6 ft	2
Sat 2:00am	2.0 ft	1.7–2.3 ft	3.0 ft	W · 8.8 s	5.4 mph NE	1.1 ft	2
Sat 3:00am	1.9 ft	1.7–2.2 ft	2.9 ft	W · 9.0 s	4.9 mph NE	1.1 ft	2
Sat 4:00am	1.8 ft	1.6–2.1 ft	2.7 ft	W · 9.1 s	4.0 mph NE	1.7 ft	2
Sat 5:00am	1.7 ft	1.6–1.9 ft	2.6 ft	W · 9.2 s	3.3 mph NNE	2.7 ft	2
Sat 6:00am	1.7 ft	1.5–1.9 ft	2.5 ft	W · 9.3 s	2.7 mph NE	3.8 ft	2
Sat 7:00am	1.6 ft	1.4–1.7 ft	2.4 ft	WSW · 9.4 s	2.5 mph NE	4.9 ft	2
Sat 8:00am	1.5 ft	1.4–1.6 ft	2.3 ft	WSW · 9.5 s	2.3 mph ENE	5.6 ft	2
Sat 9:00am	1.5 ft	1.4–1.6 ft	2.3 ft	WSW · 9.6 s	1.6 mph ENE	5.7 ft	2
Sat 10:00am	1.5 ft	1.3–1.6 ft	2.2 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	0.9 mph SW	5.2 ft	2
Sat 11:00am	1.4 ft	1.3–1.5 ft	2.1 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	2.1 mph WSW	4.2 ft	2
Sat 12:00pm	1.4 ft	1.2–1.5 ft	2.0 ft	WSW · 9.8 s	5.4 mph WSW	2.9 ft	2
Sat 1:00pm	1.4 ft	1.2–1.6 ft	2.1 ft	WSW · 9.8 s	7.9 mph W	1.7 ft	2
Sat 2:00pm	1.3 ft	1.1–1.5 ft	2.0 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	8.4 mph W	0.7 ft	2
Sat 3:00pm	1.3 ft	1.1–1.5 ft	1.9 ft	WSW · 9.6 s	8.2 mph W	0.3 ft	2
Sat 4:00pm	1.3 ft	1.1–1.5 ft	1.9 ft	WSW · 9.5 s	9.4 mph WSW	0.4 ft	2
Sat 5:00pm	1.2 ft	1.0–1.5 ft	1.9 ft	WSW · 9.4 s	9.3 mph WSW	1.1 ft	2
Sat 6:00pm	1.2 ft	0.9–1.5 ft	1.8 ft	WSW · 9.3 s	8.2 mph W	2.1 ft	2
Sat 7:00pm	1.1 ft	0.9–1.4 ft	1.7 ft	WSW · 9.2 s	5.9 mph W	3.2 ft	2
Sat 8:00pm	1.1 ft	0.8–1.4 ft	1.7 ft	WSW · 9.1 s	3.3 mph WSW	4.0 ft	2
Sat 9:00pm	1.1 ft	0.8–1.3 ft	1.6 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	2.2 mph SW	4.5 ft	2
Sat 10:00pm	1.0 ft	0.7–1.3 ft	1.5 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	2.2 mph S	4.5 ft	2
Sat 11:00pm	1.0 ft	0.7–1.2 ft	1.4 ft	WSW · 8.9 s	2.3 mph S	3.9 ft	2
Sun 12:00am	0.9 ft	0.7–1.1 ft	1.3 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	1.5 mph SSE	3.1 ft	2
Sun 1:00am	0.8 ft	0.6–1.1 ft	1.3 ft	WSW · 9.0 s	1.8 mph E	2.2 ft	2
Sun 2:00am	0.8 ft	0.6–1.0 ft	1.2 ft	WSW · 9.1 s	2.0 mph E	1.6 ft	2
Sun 3:00am	0.7 ft	0.6–0.8 ft	1.1 ft	WSW · 9.1 s	2.1 mph ENE	1.3 ft	2
Sun 4:00am	0.7 ft	0.6–0.8 ft	1.0 ft	WSW · 9.2 s	3.0 mph NE	1.7 ft	2
Sun 5:00am	0.6 ft	0.5–0.7 ft	0.9 ft	WSW · 9.3 s	3.7 mph ENE	2.5 ft	2
Sun 6:00am	0.6 ft	0.5–0.7 ft	0.9 ft	WSW · 9.3 s	2.9 mph ENE	3.6 ft	2
Sun 7:00am	0.5 ft	0.4–0.6 ft	0.8 ft	WSW · 9.3 s	2.0 mph E	4.8 ft	2
Sun 8:00am	0.5 ft	0.4–0.5 ft	0.7 ft	WSW · 9.3 s	1.3 mph ESE	5.7 ft	2
Sun 9:00am	0.5 ft	0.4–0.5 ft	0.7 ft	WSW · 9.4 s	1.4 mph SE	6.1 ft	2
Sun 10:00am	0.4 ft	0.4–0.5 ft	0.7 ft	WSW · 9.5 s	2.4 mph SE	5.9 ft	2
Sun 11:00am	0.4 ft	0.3–0.5 ft	0.7 ft	WSW · 9.6 s	2.1 mph SSE	5.0 ft	2
Sun 12:00pm	0.4 ft	0.3–0.5 ft	0.7 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	3.1 mph SSW	3.7 ft	2
Sun 1:00pm	0.4 ft	0.3–0.6 ft	0.6 ft	WSW · 9.9 s	5.7 mph WSW	2.2 ft	2

Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.

This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.

Know the spot

The big outer Emma Wood reef: steep A-frames, serious foam balls and one of Ventura’s major-wave options.

Also known as Overhead · V.O. · Ventura Overhead.

Break type: Outer reef
Wave direction: A-frame / left & right
Reported difficulty: Expert
Bottom: Reef / rock
Reported swell preference: Large W–NW
Reported tide preference: Mid–high; enough depth

It sits well offshore and needs significant west-to-northwest energy. Both left and right lines can be high quality, but the paddle and hold-downs are consequential.

Before paddling out: Long paddle, dangerous rips, heavy hold-downs, reef, sharks, currents and rescue distance.

Emma Wood public shoreline access Approximate offshore reef pin

Source references

Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.

THE FIELD GUIDE / Ventura Overhead

Read this stretch of coast.

Follow the swell window

The catalogue’s reported preference for Ventura Overhead is “Large W–NW”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.

Check the water level

Reported tide preference: Mid–high; enough depth. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.

Read the bottom and the lineup

Catalogue bottom: Reef / rock. Reported difficulty: Expert. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.

A useful note for next time

Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.

Camera references nearby

Ventura Harbor entrance ↗

Ventura Harbor Patrol / IPCamLive · about 6.1 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Entrance/channel and coastal weather, not a guaranteed view of the surf takeoff.

Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.

Make the next session easier

Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work

Nearby spots to compare

PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.

COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE

Waves at the model cells

2.69–3.02 ft

Significant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.

Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.