Dipper › Co. Dublin

Donabate, Balcarrick Beach

Excellent Quality 2025 Blue Flag Green Coast faces E

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
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Dip score now
66
Decent · moderate breeze, dry
Waves
0.7 m
5 s period from SE · model cell 2.4 km out
Sea
15.0°
Fresh. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 45 km away.
Tide
2.4 m
Rising. High at 16:05.
Wind
22 km/h
Moderate breeze, SSW, cross, gusts 44
Daylight
07:27
Sunrise. Sunset 19:00. Air 17°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours, preferring low tide
Today
12:00
Decent 67/100
moderate breeze, dry, small waves 0.7 m · 0.7 m · 22 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:20 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 21:55
Sat, 3 Oct
11:00
Grand 97/100
light winds, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 9 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:20 ▲ 17:10 ▼ 23:10
Sun, 4 Oct
12:00
Grand 93/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.3 m · 19 km/h
▲ 05:55 ▼ 11:40 ▲ 18:30
Mon, 5 Oct
13:00
Grand 93/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.3 m · 19 km/h
▼ 00:45 ▲ 07:30 ▼ 13:15 ▲ 19:55
Tue, 6 Oct
16:00
Grand 88/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.3 m · 15 km/h
▼ 02:10 ▲ 08:45 ▼ 14:30 ▲ 21:05
Wed, 7 Oct
13:00
Decent 79/100
gentle breeze, dry · 16 km/h
▼ 03:15 ▲ 09:50 ▼ 15:30 ▲ 22:00
Thu, 8 Oct
19:00
Grand 80/100
gentle breeze, dry · 14 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 12:0067 · Decentmoderate breeze · dry
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 11:00 · 81 GrandFri 12:00 · 67 DecentFri 13:00 · 63 DecentFri 14:00 · 31 BlowyFri 15:00 · 18 GrimFri 16:00 · 24 GrimFri 17:00 · 26 GrimFri 18:00 · 31 BlowyFri 19:00 · 34 BlowyFri 20:00 · 63 Decent · nightFri 21:00 · 80 Grand · nightFri 22:00 · 85 Grand · nightFri 23:00 · 81 Grand · nightSat 00:00 · 76 Decent · nightSat 01:00 · 63 Decent · nightSat 02:00 · 59 Fresh · nightSat 03:00 · 65 Decent · nightSat 04:00 · 67 Decent · nightSat 05:00 · 66 Decent · nightSat 06:00 · 71 Decent · nightSat 07:00 · 76 DecentSat 08:00 · 80 GrandSat 09:00 · 90 GrandSat 10:00 · 95 GrandSat 11:00 · 97 GrandSat 12:00 · 93 GrandSat 13:00 · 89 GrandSat 14:00 · 85 GrandSat 15:00 · 75 DecentSat 16:00 · 71 DecentSat 17:00 · 73 DecentSat 18:00 · 76 DecentSat 19:00 · 81 GrandSat 20:00 · 85 Grand · nightSat 21:00 · 87 Grand · nightSat 22:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 23:00 · 96 Grand · nightSun 00:00 · 94 Grand · nightSun 01:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 02:00 · 85 Grand · nightSun 03:00 · 81 Grand · nightSun 04:00 · 77 Decent · nightSun 05:00 · 73 Decent · nightSun 06:00 · 69 Decent · nightSun 07:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 08:00 · 76 DecentSun 09:00 · 81 GrandSun 10:00 · 82 GrandSun 11:00 · 91 GrandSun 12:00 · 93 GrandSun 13:00 · 85 GrandSun 14:00 · 80 GrandSun 15:00 · 76 DecentSun 16:00 · 76 DecentSun 17:00 · 72 DecentSun 18:00 · 68 DecentSun 19:00 · 68 DecentSun 20:00 · 73 Decent · nightSun 21:00 · 77 Decent · nightSun 22:00 · 82 Grand · nightSun 23:00 · 86 Grand · nightMon 00:00 · 87 Grand · nightMon 01:00 · 89 Grand · nightMon 02:00 · 89 Grand · nightMon 03:00 · 81 Grand · nightMon 04:00 · 81 Grand · nightMon 05:00 · 72 Decent · nightMon 06:00 · 68 Decent · nightMon 07:00 · 64 Decent · nightMon 10:00 · 74 DecentMon 13:00 · 93 GrandMon 16:00 · 78 DecentMon 19:00 · 76 DecentMon 22:00 · 81 Grand · nightTue 01:00 · 89 Grand · nightTue 04:00 · 92 Grand · nightTue 07:00 · 73 Decent · nightTue 10:00 · 64 DecentTue 13:00 · 79 DecentTue 16:00 · 88 GrandTue 19:00 · 75 DecentTue 22:00 · 67 Decent · nightWed 01:00 · 76 Decent · nightWed 04:00 · 83 Grand · nightWed 07:00 · 70 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 64 DecentWed 13:00 · 79 DecentWed 19:00 · 68 DecentThu 01:00 · 72 Decent · nightThu 07:00 · 74 Decent · nightThu 13:00 · 74 DecentThu 19:00 · 80 Grand

Fri, 2 Oct, 12:00

67 Decent
  • moderate breeze
  • dry
  • small waves 0.7 m
  • cross wind
NESWsunrisesunset0.7 m22 km/h
faces 93° E · wind cross
Waves
0.7 m @ 5 s from SE
Wind
22 km/h SSW · gusts 44
Tide
2.2 m · lower half
Air
17°C · dry

Meteogram

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

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
12:0067 Decent0.7 m5 sSE22 km/h SSW442.2 m dry17°moderate breeze, dry, small waves 0.7 m
13:0063 Decent0.8 m6 sSE21 km/h S472.9 m dry17°moderate breeze, dry, small waves 0.8 m
14:0031 Blowy0.9 m6 sSE30 km/h SSW503.4 m 0.1 mm18°fresh breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
15:0018 Grim1.0 m7 sSE29 km/h SSW503.7 m ▲0.4 mm18°fresh breeze, showers possible, waves 1.0 m
16:0024 Grim1.1 m8 sSE28 km/h SSW493.9 m ▲0.7 mm17°moderate breeze, rain, waves 1.1 m
17:0026 Grim1.0 m8 sSE20 km/h S483.8 m ▲1.1 mm16°moderate breeze, rain, waves 1.0 m
18:0031 Blowy1.0 m8 sSE25 km/h SSW443.3 m 1.0 mm16°moderate breeze, rain, waves 1.0 m
19:0034 Blowy1.0 m8 sSE30 km/h WSW372.6 m 0.2 mm15°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
20:0063 Decent0.9 m8 sSE23 km/h WSW321.9 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
21:0080 Grand0.8 m8 sSE22 km/h WSW321.3 m ▼dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
22:0085 Grand0.7 m8 sSE18 km/h WSW321.1 m ▼dry12°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.7 m
23:0081 Grand0.6 m6 sSE18 km/h W311.3 m ▼dry11°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.6 m
Saturday, 3 October
00:0076 Decent0.6 m6 sSE18 km/h W281.8 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, small waves 0.6 m
01:0063 Decent0.5 m6 sSE20 km/h W292.4 m dry10°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0059 Fresh0.5 m6 sSE20 km/h W282.9 m dry9°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0065 Decent0.4 m6 sSE13 km/h W243.4 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
04:0067 Decent0.4 m6 sSE7 km/h W193.7 m ▲dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
05:0066 Decent0.3 m6 sSE6 km/h WSW173.8 m ▲dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
06:0071 Decent0.3 m5 sSE5 km/h WSW173.5 m dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
07:0076 Decent0.3 m5 sSE7 km/h WSW173.0 m dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
08:0080 Grand0.3 m5 sSE6 km/h WSW172.4 m dry9°light winds, dry, calm sea
09:0090 Grand0.2 m5 sSE6 km/h SW171.8 m dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
10:0095 Grand0.2 m5 sSE7 km/h WSW171.4 m ▼dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
11:0097 Grand0.2 m4 sSE9 km/h WSW171.5 m ▼dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
12:0093 Grand0.2 m4 sSE11 km/h WSW181.8 m dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
13:0089 Grand0.2 m4 sSE9 km/h WSW182.3 m dry15°light winds, dry, calm sea
14:0085 Grand0.2 m4 sSE8 km/h WSW202.8 m dry16°light winds, dry, calm sea
15:0075 Decent0.1 m4 sSE13 km/h SSE233.2 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
16:0071 Decent0.1 m4 sSE14 km/h SSE253.5 m ▲dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
17:0073 Decent0.2 m4 sSE12 km/h SSE263.7 m ▲dry15°light winds, dry, calm sea
18:0076 Decent0.2 m3 sSE11 km/h SW243.7 m ▲dry16°light winds, dry, calm sea
19:0081 Grand0.2 m3 sSE9 km/h SSW223.3 m dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
20:0085 Grand0.2 m3 sSE10 km/h S202.7 m dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
21:0087 Grand0.2 m3 sSE9 km/h SSW212.1 m dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
22:0092 Grand0.2 m3 sSE11 km/h SW201.6 m ▼dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
23:0096 Grand0.2 m3 sSE11 km/h SW191.3 m ▼dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
Sunday, 4 October
00:0094 Grand0.2 m4 sSE8 km/h SW201.4 m ▼dry11°light winds, dry, calm sea
01:0089 Grand0.2 m4 sSE8 km/h SSW211.7 m dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
02:0085 Grand0.2 m4 sSE8 km/h SSW222.1 m dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
03:0081 Grand0.2 m4 sSE8 km/h S242.6 m dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
04:0077 Decent0.3 m4 sSE5 km/h SSW273.1 m dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
05:0073 Decent0.3 m4 sSE10 km/h SW293.4 m ▲dry12°light winds, dry, calm sea
06:0069 Decent0.3 m4 sSE11 km/h SSW323.6 m ▲dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
07:0074 Decent0.3 m4 sSE10 km/h SSW333.5 m ▲dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
08:0076 Decent0.3 m4 sSE19 km/h SW333.1 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0081 Grand0.3 m4 sSE18 km/h SW332.6 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0082 Grand0.3 m4 sSE20 km/h SW342.1 m dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
11:0091 Grand0.3 m4 sSE19 km/h SW351.8 m ▼dry16°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 · Decent · sea 15° · 0.7 mFri, 2 Oct 11:30–12:30 · moderate breeze, dry, small waves 0.7 m
🌊 Donabate, Balcarrick Beach dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.2 mSat, 3 Oct 10:30–11:30 · light winds, dry, calm sea
🌊 Donabate, Balcarrick Beach dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.3 mSun, 4 Oct 11:30–12:30 · gentle breeze, 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.