The Swell Chart in Tide Alert delivers detailed ocean wave data to help you make informed decisions about water activities. This powerful visualization combines swell height, period, and direction data in an easy-to-read format that's essential for anyone venturing onto the water.

Why Swell Data Matters

Understanding swell conditions can mean the difference between an epic day on the water and a dangerous situation:

• Surfers: Dial in perfect sessions by tracking swell height and period. Quality waves come from larger swells with longer periods (8+ seconds), which create cleaner, more organized breaks with better rides.
• Boaters: Navigate safely by monitoring swell direction and size. Large swells from certain directions can create hazardous bar crossings and rough seas, while smaller swells mean smoother sailing.
• Kayakers: Launch with confidence by checking current conditions. Sea kayakers especially need to understand swell patterns when crossing channels or paddling in exposed waters.
• Swimmers: Stay safe in open water by knowing what wave conditions to expect. Large swells can create powerful currents and dangerous shore breaks.

What the Chart Shows

The swell chart presents three critical pieces of information in one view:

• Swell Height: The orange line traces wave size throughout the day, with precise measurements shown in your preferred units (feet or meters). Directional arrows reveal where swells originate.
• Swell Period: Cyan bars display the seconds between wave crests. This is crucial—longer periods (10+ seconds) mean more powerful, organized waves, while shorter periods indicate choppy, wind-driven seas.
• Wave Direction: Compass arrows on each data point show the direction swells are traveling from, helping you understand how they'll interact with your local coastline and surf breaks.

Getting Around

Navigate between dates using the left and right arrows to see how swell conditions change over time. The chart automatically centers on the current hour, so you can quickly see what's happening right now.

On newer devices (iOS 17+), scroll horizontally to explore different times of day. This is perfect for timing your session to catch the best conditions or avoid rough periods.

When Data Isn't Available

Remote locations or areas far from monitoring buoys may show "No data available." The app constantly updates with fresh information, so check back as conditions and data coverage can change.

Making Smart Decisions

For surfers, look for the sweet spot of:

• Wave heights that match your skill level (2-4ft for beginners, 6ft+ for experienced)
• Periods of 8-12+ seconds for clean, powerful waves
• Consistent swell direction that works with your local break

For boaters and other activities, smaller wave heights (under 3ft) and shorter periods typically mean calmer, more manageable conditions. Pay special attention to swell direction—swells hitting your area head-on can create much rougher conditions than those hitting at an angle.

Important Disclaimer

Use at your own risk. Weather and marine data provided by this app is for informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. Conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly. Always use multiple sources of information and exercise proper judgment when making decisions about water activities. Rivolu LLC cannot be held responsible for any decisions made based on this data or any consequences resulting from the use of this app.