Dipper › Co. Dublin

Donabate, Balcarrick Beach

Excellent Quality 2025 Blue Flag Green Coast faces E

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
Any tidePrefer highPrefer low
Dip score now
85
Grand · gentle breeze, dry
Waves
0.7 m
7 s period from SE · model cell 2.4 km out
Sea
15.0°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 45 km away.
Tide
1.1 m
Low tide. High at 04:40.
Wind
17 km/h
Gentle breeze, W, offshore, gusts 33
Daylight
07:27
Sunrise. Sunset 19:00. Air 12°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours
Today
Daylight's done for today.
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:20 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 21:55
Sat, 3 Oct
12:00
Grand 100/100
light winds, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 9 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:20 ▲ 17:10 ▼ 23:10
Sun, 4 Oct
09:00
Grand 100/100
light winds, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 10 km/h
▲ 05:55 ▼ 11:40 ▲ 18:30
Mon, 5 Oct
08:00
Grand 94/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.3 m · 18 km/h
▼ 00:45 ▲ 07:30 ▼ 13:15 ▲ 19:55
Tue, 6 Oct
19:00
Grand 100/100
light winds, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 12 km/h
▼ 02:10 ▲ 08:45 ▼ 14:30 ▲ 21:05
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Grand 91/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 13 km/h
▼ 03:15 ▲ 09:50 ▼ 15:30 ▲ 22:00
Thu, 8 Oct
19:00
Grand 97/100
light winds, dry · 8 km/h
▼ 04:05 ▲ 10:45 ▼ 16:20 ▲ 22:55

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 22:0085 · Grandgentle breeze · dry
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 20:00 · 76 Decent · nightFri 21:00 · 72 Decent · nightFri 22:00 · 85 Grand · nightFri 23:00 · 85 Grand · nightSat 00:00 · 85 Grand · nightSat 01:00 · 80 Grand · nightSat 02:00 · 80 Grand · nightSat 03:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 04:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 05:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 06:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 07:00 · 92 GrandSat 08:00 · 92 GrandSat 09:00 · 92 GrandSat 10:00 · 97 GrandSat 11:00 · 97 GrandSat 12:00 · 100 GrandSat 13:00 · 100 GrandSat 14:00 · 100 GrandSat 15:00 · 100 GrandSat 16:00 · 100 GrandSat 17:00 · 94 GrandSat 18:00 · 94 GrandSat 19:00 · 100 GrandSat 20:00 · 97 Grand · nightSat 21:00 · 97 Grand · nightSat 22:00 · 97 Grand · nightSat 23:00 · 97 Grand · nightSun 00:00 · 92 Grand · nightSun 01:00 · 92 Grand · nightSun 02:00 · 92 Grand · nightSun 03:00 · 97 Grand · nightSun 04:00 · 92 Grand · nightSun 05:00 · 92 Grand · nightSun 06:00 · 97 Grand · nightSun 07:00 · 97 Grand · nightSun 08:00 · 97 GrandSun 09:00 · 100 GrandSun 10:00 · 94 GrandSun 11:00 · 94 GrandSun 12:00 · 94 GrandSun 13:00 · 94 GrandSun 14:00 · 94 GrandSun 15:00 · 94 GrandSun 16:00 · 94 GrandSun 17:00 · 94 GrandSun 18:00 · 94 GrandSun 19:00 · 90 GrandSun 20:00 · 94 Grand · nightSun 21:00 · 94 Grand · nightSun 22:00 · 94 Grand · nightSun 23:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 00:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 01:00 · 94 Grand · nightMon 02:00 · 94 Grand · nightMon 03:00 · 94 Grand · nightMon 04:00 · 94 Grand · nightMon 05:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 06:00 · 94 Grand · nightMon 07:00 · 94 Grand · nightMon 08:00 · 94 GrandMon 09:00 · 94 GrandMon 10:00 · 90 GrandMon 11:00 · 90 GrandMon 12:00 · 90 GrandMon 13:00 · 90 GrandMon 14:00 · 90 GrandMon 15:00 · 90 GrandMon 16:00 · 94 GrandMon 17:00 · 94 GrandMon 18:00 · 94 GrandMon 19:00 · 94 GrandMon 22:00 · 100 Grand · nightTue 01:00 · 100 Grand · nightTue 04:00 · 100 Grand · nightTue 07:00 · 86 Grand · nightTue 10:00 · 86 GrandTue 13:00 · 86 GrandTue 16:00 · 94 GrandTue 19:00 · 100 GrandTue 22:00 · 97 Grand · nightWed 01:00 · 91 Grand · nightWed 04:00 · 86 Grand · nightWed 07:00 · 86 Grand · nightWed 10:00 · 91 GrandWed 13:00 · 91 GrandWed 16:00 · 90 GrandWed 19:00 · 91 GrandWed 22:00 · 86 Grand · nightThu 01:00 · 86 Grand · nightThu 07:00 · 86 Grand · nightThu 13:00 · 91 GrandThu 19:00 · 97 Grand

Fri, 2 Oct, 22:00

85 Grand
  • gentle breeze
  • dry
  • small waves 0.7 m
  • sunny
  • low tide
  • offshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset0.7 m17 km/h
faces 93° E · wind offshore
Waves
0.7 m @ 7 s from SE
Wind
17 km/h W · gusts 33
Tide
1.1 m · low
Air
12°C · dry

Meteogram

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

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
21:0072 Decent0.8 m7 sSE22 km/h WSW331.3 m ▼dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
22:0085 Grand0.7 m7 sSE17 km/h W331.1 m ▼dry12°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.7 m
23:0085 Grand0.7 m7 sSE18 km/h W301.3 m ▼dry11°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.7 m
Saturday, 3 October
00:0085 Grand0.6 m7 sSE17 km/h W281.8 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.6 m
01:0080 Grand0.5 m7 sSE19 km/h W292.4 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.5 m
02:0080 Grand0.5 m7 sSE13 km/h W292.9 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.5 m
03:0092 Grand0.4 m7 sSE7 km/h WSW243.4 m dry8°light winds, dry, calm sea
04:0092 Grand0.3 m7 sSE8 km/h WSW193.7 m ▲dry8°light winds, dry, calm sea
05:0092 Grand0.3 m6 sSE8 km/h W183.8 m ▲dry7°light winds, dry, calm sea
06:0092 Grand0.3 m5 sSE8 km/h W183.5 m dry7°light winds, dry, calm sea
07:0092 Grand0.3 m5 sSE7 km/h WNW183.0 m dry6°light winds, dry, calm sea
08:0092 Grand0.2 m5 sSE7 km/h WNW172.4 m dry7°light winds, dry, calm sea
09:0092 Grand0.2 m4 sSE6 km/h W171.8 m dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
10:0097 Grand0.2 m4 sSE6 km/h WSW191.4 m ▼dry11°light winds, dry, calm sea
11:0097 Grand0.2 m4 sSE8 km/h WSW191.5 m ▼dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
12:00100 Grand0.2 m4 sSE9 km/h W191.8 m dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
13:00100 Grand0.1 m4 sSE8 km/h W182.3 m dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
14:00100 Grand0.1 m4 sSE8 km/h WSW182.8 m dry15°light winds, dry, calm sea
15:00100 Grand0.1 m4 sSE8 km/h WSW193.2 m dry15°light winds, dry, calm sea
16:00100 Grand0.1 m4 sSE12 km/h SSE223.5 m ▲dry15°light winds, dry, calm sea
17:0094 Grand0.2 m3 sSE12 km/h S223.7 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0094 Grand0.2 m3 sSE15 km/h SSE213.7 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:00100 Grand0.2 m3 sSE11 km/h S193.3 m dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
20:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE8 km/h S172.7 m dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
21:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE9 km/h SSW172.1 m dry11°light winds, dry, calm sea
22:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE8 km/h SW171.6 m ▼dry11°light winds, dry, calm sea
23:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE9 km/h WSW171.3 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
Sunday, 4 October
00:0092 Grand0.2 m3 sSE8 km/h SW171.4 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
01:0092 Grand0.2 m3 sSE7 km/h SW171.7 m dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
02:0092 Grand0.2 m3 sSE10 km/h WSW172.1 m dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
03:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE10 km/h SW172.6 m dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
04:0092 Grand0.2 m3 sSE5 km/h SW173.1 m dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
05:0092 Grand0.2 m3 sSE5 km/h S173.4 m ▲dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
06:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE5 km/h SSW183.6 m ▲dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
07:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE8 km/h S193.5 m ▲dry11°light winds, dry, calm sea
08:0097 Grand0.2 m3 sSE10 km/h S223.1 m dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
09:00100 Grand0.2 m4 sSE10 km/h SW252.6 m dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
10:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE15 km/h SW282.1 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
11:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE15 km/h SW311.8 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
12:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE16 km/h SW331.7 m ▼dry16°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
13:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE17 km/h SW341.8 m dry18°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
14:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE17 km/h SW352.1 m dry18°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
15:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE18 km/h SW362.6 m dry18°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
16:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE18 km/h WSW353.0 m dry18°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
17:0094 Grand0.3 m4 sSE18 km/h SW353.4 m dry19°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0094 Grand0.3 m4 sSE19 km/h SW333.7 m ▲dry18°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0090 Grand0.3 m4 sSE20 km/h SW323.7 m ▲dry18°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
20:0094 Grand0.3 m4 sSE18 km/h SW303.5 m dry17°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea

Where the energy comes from

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

No swell window: this spot is inland or fully sheltered.

Tide today

Howth, 10 km away · metres above chart datum
03:3509:2016:0521:55
High 03:35 · 4.0 mLow 09:20 · 1.1 mHigh 16:05 · 3.9 mLow 21:55 · 1.1 m

The spot

Faces
93° E
Swell window
None (sheltered)
Exposure
Bay · model cell 2.4 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: 11am to 7pm weekends only in June & full time July & AugustToiletsParkingDogs on lead

As listed by Fingal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

The Sea Sauna · Tower Bay Beach, Portrane · 2 km · fixed

Restore Sauna Portmarnock · White Sands Hotel, Coast Road, Portmarnock · 5 km · fixed

The Wood Fired Sauna (Rush) · North Beach, Rush · 6 km · fixed

Mercury Sauna · Portmarnock Beach north car park · 6 km · fixed

Donabate Balcarrick beach is a south-east facing, gently sloping sandy beach consisting of a large sandy dune area.

Put Donabate, Balcarrick Beach 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
🌊 Donabate, Balcarrick Beach dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.2 mSat, 3 Oct 11:30–12:30 · light winds, dry, calm sea
🌊 Donabate, Balcarrick Beach dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.2 mSun, 4 Oct 08:30–09:30 · light winds, dry, calm sea

Nearby spots

Portrane, the Brook Beach

2 km · Co. Dublin · Good Quality

Rush, South Beach

5 km · Co. Dublin · Good Quality

Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach

5 km · Co. Dublin · Excellent Quality

Rush North Beach

6 km · Co. Dublin · Excellent Quality

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