Dipper › Co. Donegal

Culdaff

Excellent Quality 2025 Blue Flag faces NE

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
Any tidePrefer highPrefer low
Dip score now
90
Grand · moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore
Waves
0.3 m
12 s period from NNE · model cell 2.1 km out
Sea
15.1°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 230 km away.
Tide
3.0 m
Rising, nearly high. High at 10:25.
Wind
21 km/h
Moderate breeze, S, offshore, gusts 42
Daylight
07:32
Sunrise. Sunset 19:03. Air 13°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours
Today
19:00
Grand 91/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 15 km/h
▼ 04:20 ▲ 10:25 ▼ 17:00 ▲ 23:00
Sat, 3 Oct
11:00
Grand 94/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 16 km/h
▼ 05:10 ▲ 11:25 ▼ 18:20
Sun, 4 Oct
08:00
Grand 90/100
moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry · 0.1 m · 24 km/h
▲ 00:30 ▼ 06:30 ▲ 13:25 ▼ 20:10
Mon, 5 Oct
19:00
Grand 86/100
gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea · 0.2 m · 18 km/h
▲ 02:20 ▼ 08:15 ▲ 15:05 ▼ 21:35
Tue, 6 Oct
10:00
Grand 83/100
gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea · 0.4 m · 16 km/h
▲ 03:40 ▼ 09:50 ▲ 16:10 ▼ 22:40
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Decent 79/100
gentle breeze, rain, low tide · 18 km/h
▲ 04:30 ▼ 10:35 ▲ 17:00 ▼ 23:25
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grand 83/100
gentle breeze, showers possible · 14 km/h
▲ 05:20 ▼ 11:15 ▲ 17:35

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 09:0090 · Grandmoderate breeze · offshore, flatter inshore
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 06:00 · 87 Grand · nightFri 07:00 · 87 Grand · nightFri 08:00 · 87 GrandFri 09:00 · 90 GrandFri 10:00 · 90 GrandFri 11:00 · 74 DecentFri 12:00 · 82 GrandFri 13:00 · 70 DecentFri 14:00 · 72 DecentFri 15:00 · 74 DecentFri 16:00 · 86 GrandFri 17:00 · 90 GrandFri 18:00 · 90 GrandFri 19:00 · 91 GrandFri 20:00 · 91 Grand · nightFri 21:00 · 91 Grand · nightFri 22:00 · 91 Grand · nightFri 23:00 · 87 Grand · nightSat 00:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 01:00 · 91 Grand · nightSat 02:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 03:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 04:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 05:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 06:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 07:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 08:00 · 92 GrandSat 09:00 · 91 GrandSat 10:00 · 91 GrandSat 11:00 · 94 GrandSat 12:00 · 94 GrandSat 13:00 · 94 GrandSat 14:00 · 94 GrandSat 15:00 · 94 GrandSat 16:00 · 94 GrandSat 17:00 · 94 GrandSat 18:00 · 94 GrandSat 19:00 · 94 GrandSat 20:00 · 94 Grand · nightSat 21:00 · 90 Grand · nightSat 22:00 · 90 Grand · nightSat 23:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 00:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 01:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 02:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 03:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 04:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 05:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 06:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 07:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 08:00 · 90 GrandSun 09:00 · 90 GrandSun 10:00 · 90 GrandSun 11:00 · 90 GrandSun 12:00 · 90 GrandSun 13:00 · 90 GrandSun 14:00 · 90 GrandSun 15:00 · 90 GrandSun 16:00 · 90 GrandSun 17:00 · 90 GrandSun 18:00 · 90 GrandSun 19:00 · 90 GrandSun 20:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 21:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 22:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 23:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 00:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 01:00 · 74 Decent · nightMon 02:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 03:00 · 74 Decent · nightMon 04:00 · 74 Decent · nightMon 05:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 06:00 · 74 Decent · nightMon 07:00 · 74 Decent · nightMon 10:00 · 82 GrandMon 13:00 · 82 GrandMon 16:00 · 82 GrandMon 19:00 · 86 GrandMon 22:00 · 86 Grand · nightTue 01:00 · 86 Grand · nightTue 04:00 · 86 Grand · nightTue 07:00 · 89 Grand · nightTue 10:00 · 83 GrandTue 13:00 · 77 DecentTue 16:00 · 83 GrandTue 19:00 · 83 GrandTue 22:00 · 89 Grand · nightWed 01:00 · 83 Grand · nightWed 04:00 · 83 Grand · nightWed 07:00 · 79 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 79 DecentWed 13:00 · 69 DecentWed 19:00 · 66 DecentThu 01:00 · 52 Fresh · nightThu 07:00 · 69 Decent · nightThu 13:00 · 83 GrandThu 19:00 · 73 Decent

Fri, 2 Oct, 09:00

90 Grand
  • moderate breeze
  • offshore, flatter inshore
  • dry
  • calm sea
  • offshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset0.3 m21 km/h
faces 40° NE · wind offshore
Waves
0.3 m @ 12 s from NNE
Wind
21 km/h S · gusts 42
Tide
3.0 m · upper half
Air
13°C · dry

Meteogram

Score, waves, wind (green offshore, amber cross, red onshore), rain and air, tide

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
08:0087 Grand0.3 m (0.3 swell)12 sNNE21 km/h S422.5 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
09:0090 Grand0.3 m (0.3 swell)12 sNNE21 km/h S423.0 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
10:0090 Grand0.3 m (0.2 swell)12 sNNE24 km/h S453.2 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
11:0074 Decent0.2 m (0.2 swell)12 sNNE30 km/h S483.2 m ▲0.1 mm15°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
12:0082 Grand0.2 m (0.2 swell)12 sNNE28 km/h S493.0 m 0.4 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
13:0070 Decent0.2 m12 sNNE25 km/h S492.6 m 1.6 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
14:0072 Decent0.2 m12 sNNE19 km/h SW502.1 m 2.0 mm14°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
15:0074 Decent0.2 m12 sNNE15 km/h SW491.7 m 1.2 mm13°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
16:0086 Grand0.2 m12 sNNE19 km/h SW451.3 m ▼0.4 mm14°gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea
17:0090 Grand0.2 m12 sNNE20 km/h WSW441.2 m ▼dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
18:0090 Grand0.2 m12 sNNE20 km/h WSW401.3 m ▼dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
19:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sNNE15 km/h WSW381.6 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sNNE15 km/h SW322.0 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sNNE18 km/h WSW302.5 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sNNE15 km/h WSW312.9 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
23:0087 Grand0.2 m11 sNNE20 km/h WSW303.0 m ▲dry10°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Saturday, 3 October
00:0086 Grand0.2 m11 sN13 km/h WSW303.0 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
01:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sN15 km/h W282.7 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
02:0092 Grand0.2 m11 sN10 km/h SW272.3 m dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
03:0092 Grand0.2 m11 sN12 km/h SW251.9 m dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
04:0092 Grand0.2 m11 sN12 km/h SW251.5 m ▼dry8°light winds, dry, calm sea
05:0092 Grand0.2 m11 sN11 km/h SW261.3 m ▼dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
06:0086 Grand0.2 m11 sN12 km/h SW261.4 m ▼dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
07:0086 Grand0.2 m11 sN13 km/h SW271.6 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
08:0092 Grand0.2 m11 sN11 km/h SW282.0 m dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
09:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sN14 km/h SW272.5 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sN15 km/h WSW282.8 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
11:0094 Grand0.2 m11 sN16 km/h WSW292.9 m ▲dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
12:0094 Grand0.2 m11 sN18 km/h WSW293.0 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
13:0094 Grand0.2 m11 sN17 km/h SW292.9 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
14:0094 Grand0.2 m11 sN18 km/h SW302.6 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
15:0094 Grand0.2 m10 sN18 km/h SW302.3 m dry16°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
16:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN18 km/h SSW311.9 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
17:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN14 km/h SSW321.6 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN13 km/h SSW301.4 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0094 Grand0.1 m11 sN15 km/h SSW281.4 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0094 Grand0.1 m11 sN18 km/h SSW331.6 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN22 km/h SSW381.9 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
22:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN21 km/h SSW422.3 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
23:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN27 km/h SSW462.5 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN27 km/h SSW482.7 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0074 Decent0.1 m11 sN31 km/h SSW492.8 m ▲dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0074 Decent0.1 m11 sN33 km/h SSW492.6 m dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0074 Decent0.1 m11 sN32 km/h SSW492.4 m dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0074 Decent0.1 m11 sN30 km/h SSW482.0 m dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
05:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN28 km/h SSW481.7 m 0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
06:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN24 km/h SSW461.6 m ▼0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
07:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN25 km/h SSW461.5 m ▼dry15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry

Where the energy comes from

Wave energy (H²·T) this week by direction, against the swell window

Swell arriving between NW and SSE reaches this spot; anything else is blocked by land and counts for much less.

Tide today

Malin Head, 15 km away · metres above chart datum
04:2010:2517:0023:00
Low 04:20 · 1.0 mHigh 10:25 · 3.2 mLow 17:00 · 1.2 mHigh 23:00 · 3.0 m

The spot

Faces
40° NE
Swell window
NW 310° → SSE 150°
Exposure
Open coast · model cell 2.1 km out
Water
Excellent Quality · Blue Flag

Facing and swell window are derived from the wave model's coastline around the spot, not surveyed. Know better? Tell us.

Water quality

Recent grades: 2024 Excellent, 2023 Excellent, 2022 Excellent. The EPA flags a short-term pollution risk here after heavy rain.

Beach profile (PDF) · beaches.ie

On the ground

Lifeguard: YesToiletsParkingYesAccessible: YesDogs on lead (Dogs are not permitted in the Blue Flag Area of the beach from 12 pm to 7 pm (1st June to 15th September annually). Dogs are permitted on leads outside the Blue Flag Area at all times.)

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

The Sea View Sauna (Culdaff) · Culdaff Beach car park · 1 km · fixed

The Sea View Sauna (Shroove) · Shroove Beach, Greencastle, Inishowen · 16 km · fixed

HotBox Sea Sauna (Benone) · Benone Strand, Magilligan, Co. Londonderry (NI) · 22 km · fixed

Sauna & Sea · Portstewart Strand (National Trust), Co. Londonderry (NI) · 30 km · fixed

Culdaff beach consists of a sandy beach with two rock outcrops at the south-east of the beach. The beach is contained to the west by sand dunes and to the north-west by the Culdaff River which has an extensive area of relatively unspoilt coastal habitats which support a range of plant and animal species. The catchment area is an idyllic location for bird watching and ecological activities. Activities include swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, canoeing, surfing, shore angling and land-based activities such as walking, kite flying, rock climbing, etc.

Put Culdaff in your calendar

Dipper Plus drops the best dip hour here into your phone every day, with waves, sea temperature, tide and a 45-minute nudge. Up to three spots.

Set up Dipper Plus
🌊 Culdaff dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.2 mFri, 2 Oct 18:30–19:30 · gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
🌊 Culdaff dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.2 mSat, 3 Oct 10:30–11:30 · gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
🌊 Culdaff dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mSun, 4 Oct 07:30–08:30 · moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry

Nearby spots

Drumlee Lough

6 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Lough Nastachan

7 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Lough Effish

7 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Black Lough

7 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Score is Dipper's own blend. It rates comfort, not safety. Forecast: Met Éireann. Waves: Marine Institute Irish Shelf wave model.