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Exciting kitesurfing scene along the stunning coastline of California, USA.
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Little Wind-an-Sea

4.1 — based on 24 community signals
4.4 12 species 53 contributors

Year-round surf spot in California's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary with consistent waves and protected marine habitat.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Monterey Bay National Marine S… updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entryFamily-friendlyMacroFocus

At a glance

Activity
surf
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Nudibranch

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Little Wind-an-Sea location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
1 kn
Wave
0.98 m
Water
17.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SW (30%)
Now: SW (217°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.47m

Today: High 08:00 (+0.41m), Low 10:00 (+0.36m)

+0.9 m0 m-0.6 m
▲ 08:00 · +0.41m ▼ 10:00 · +0.36m ▲ 17:00 · +0.79m ▼ 01:00 · -0.46m Now -0.4m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV6.55 · high Air PM2.510 · good 06:52 19:10
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 8.2 0.98 7 0mm
09-19 7.2 1.1 7 0mm
09-20 6.2 1.1 6 0mm
09-21 7.1 1.02 6 0mm
09-22 7.2 1.34 6 0mm
09-23 6.7 1.34 6 0mm
09-24 4.9 1.22 6 0mm

About this spot

Little Wind-an-Sea is a surf break located within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on the California coast. The spot offers year-round surfing potential, making it accessible to visitors across all seasons. Being situated inside a protected marine area means the surrounding ecosystem benefits from conservation efforts that help maintain healthy ocean conditions. The break draws surfers looking for reliable waves in a region known for consistent swell. The Monterey Bay area has a strong surf culture and well-established access points. Local community engagement is active here, with video documentation and species observations logged by visitors and locals who regularly check conditions. Surfers planning a trip should respect sanctuary boundaries and any local regulations that apply to the protected area. The combination of good surf potential and marine conservation makes this a destination worth timing correctly. Check current conditions and local reports before your session to get the most out of your visit.

📖 Guide: Diving in the United States: 87 Sites From Springs to Open Ocean

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Nudibranch

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🏄 Surfboard or rental confirmation
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B · 120V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 48%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 8659km · ~1992kg · €36

FAQ

When is the best time to surf Little Wind-an-Sea?

The spot works year-round, so you can plan a session based on your schedule rather than waiting for a specific season. Check local forecasts and swell reports closer to your trip date for current conditions.

What should I know about surfing inside a marine sanctuary?

Little Wind-an-Sea sits within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Follow all posted rules and respect marine life. The sanctuary protects the ocean ecosystem, so be mindful of your impact while surfing.

What marine life might I see here?

The Monterey Bay area supports diverse marine life. Species observations have been logged at this location. Local guides and community reports can give you current info on what's been spotted recently.

How do I access Little Wind-an-Sea?

The spot is in the Monterey Bay area of California. Use local resources, community forums, and current reports to confirm access points and any seasonal restrictions that may apply.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Adventure Sports Unlimited

5.7 km
Dive centre
Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-18:00

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

229 records · 43 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
25 Aug 2025
×1records

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin
Mammalia · Delphinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
16 Aug 2025
×1records

Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Purple Urchin recruit
Echinoidea · Strongylocentrotidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×35records
Depth:
4–21 m

Mesocentrotus franciscanus

Red Urchin adult
Echinoidea · Strongylocentrotidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×30records
Depth:
5–20 m

Tethya californiana

Orange Puff-Ball Sponge
Demospongiae · Tethyidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×13records
Depth:
5–20 m

Patiria miniata

Bat Star
Asteroidea · Asterinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×11records
Depth:
5–19 m

Haliotis rufescens

Red Abalone
Gastropoda · Haliotidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×11records
Depth:
5–19 m

Ceratostoma foliatum

Leafy Hornmouth
Gastropoda · Muricidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×10records
Depth:
5–16 m

Cucumaria miniata

Orange Sea Cucumber
Holothuroidea · Cucumariidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×9records
Depth:
9–18 m

Pisaster giganteus

Giant Spined Star
Asteroidea · Asteriidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×9records
Depth:
5–15 m

Pomaulax gibberosus

Red Turban Snail
Gastropoda · Turbinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×7records
Depth:
6–18 m

Styela montereyensis

Stalked Tunicate
Ascidiacea · Styelidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Nov 2023
×7records
Depth:
5–11 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

The History of Windansea

JacuzziSurfer
💬 3 top comments
  • I knew one of the older guys who helped to make Hot Curl, Mike Dormer. A really creative guy and to me a great painter of expressionist art.

    @rontober4611 · 👍 1
  • I got to live there briefly in the early 80's before moving to North County and graduating from SanMarcos HS in 1986. I left CA in 1989 and moved back east. I didn't return to San Diego until 2019, 30 years later. My first stop after getting off the plane was Windansea. I was happy to see the hut still on the rocks. Great video, cheers from Wyoming nowadays.

    @JEEPDadXJ · 👍 0
  • My dad’s family owned windandsea for a bit

    @loganf4346 · 👍 2

Windansea Surf Spot Review

Go Surfing San Diego

Kookapinto Shapes | 8'5 Thin Twin Fin | Surfing on small waves in San Onofre, California

NobodySurf : Surfing Videos
💬 3 top comments
  • Super cool LB waves 👍

    @danielbarbieri8199 · 👍 0
  • Unreal

    @alexqubain6022 · 👍 0
  • This is so dreamy

    @abjupitersurfers · 👍 0

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "The Cove center at UCSC has now been moved to Hahn student services."

    anonymous · 2026-02-14
  • "onosm.org submitted note from a business: Name: American Red Cross CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification addr:housenumber=2960 addr:street=Soquel Avenue addr:city=Santa Cruz addr:postcode=95062 Phone number: (800) 733-2767 Website: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr?utm_source=OPENSTREETMAP&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=website Description: Emergency training Accepted payment methods:"

    anonymous · 2026-01-09
wind peaks Feb-Mar-Jan, calmest Aug-Sep-Oct, dry Mar-Nov.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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