Dipper › Co. Donegal

Lady's Bay, Buncrana

Sufficient Quality 2025 faces WNW

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
Any tidePrefer highPrefer low
Dip score now
87
Grand · gentle breeze, dry
Waves
0.1 m
1 s period from SW · model cell 1.7 km out
Sea
15.0°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 226 km away.
Tide
3.3 m
Rising, nearly high. High at 22:50.
Wind
19 km/h
Gentle breeze, WSW, onshore, gusts 27
Daylight
07:33
Sunrise. Sunset 19:05. Air 11°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours, preferring high tide
Today
Daylight's done for today.
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:50
Sat, 3 Oct
13:00
Grand 93/100
light winds, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 10 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
13:00
Grand 83/100
moderate breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 22 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
16:00
Grand 90/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 19 km/h
▲ 02:20 ▼ 08:00 ▲ 15:00 ▼ 21:40
Tue, 6 Oct
16:00
Grand 83/100
gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea · 0.0 m · 13 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:25 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 22:35
Wed, 7 Oct
19:00
Decent 69/100
gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea · 0.1 m · 16 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:25 ▲ 16:55 ▼ 23:15
Thu, 8 Oct
19:00
Decent 77/100
gentle breeze, showers possible · 15 km/h
▲ 05:20 ▼ 11:10 ▲ 17:40 ▼ 23:55

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 22:0087 · Grandgentle breeze · dry
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 17:00 · 52 FreshFri 18:00 · 57 FreshFri 19:00 · 58 FreshFri 20:00 · 78 Decent · nightFri 21:00 · 89 Grand · nightFri 22:00 · 87 Grand · nightFri 23:00 · 90 Grand · nightSat 00:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 01:00 · 76 Decent · nightSat 02:00 · 71 Decent · nightSat 03:00 · 67 Decent · nightSat 04:00 · 62 Decent · nightSat 05:00 · 59 Fresh · nightSat 06:00 · 63 Decent · nightSat 07:00 · 67 Decent · nightSat 08:00 · 72 DecentSat 09:00 · 76 DecentSat 10:00 · 80 GrandSat 11:00 · 90 GrandSat 12:00 · 88 GrandSat 13:00 · 93 GrandSat 14:00 · 83 GrandSat 15:00 · 84 GrandSat 16:00 · 74 DecentSat 17:00 · 70 DecentSat 18:00 · 66 DecentSat 19:00 · 68 DecentSat 20:00 · 72 Decent · nightSat 21:00 · 66 Decent · nightSat 22:00 · 80 Grand · nightSat 23:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 00:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 01:00 · 79 Decent · nightSun 02:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 03:00 · 53 Fresh · nightSun 04:00 · 64 Decent · nightSun 05:00 · 59 Fresh · nightSun 06:00 · 53 Fresh · nightSun 07:00 · 57 Fresh · nightSun 08:00 · 60 FreshSun 09:00 · 64 DecentSun 10:00 · 71 DecentSun 11:00 · 75 DecentSun 12:00 · 79 DecentSun 13:00 · 83 GrandSun 14:00 · 81 GrandSun 15:00 · 77 DecentSun 16:00 · 73 DecentSun 17:00 · 69 DecentSun 18:00 · 64 DecentSun 19:00 · 70 DecentSun 20:00 · 66 Decent · nightSun 21:00 · 70 Decent · nightSun 22:00 · 75 Decent · nightSun 23:00 · 79 Decent · nightMon 00:00 · 74 Decent · nightMon 01:00 · 88 Grand · nightMon 02:00 · 93 Grand · nightMon 03:00 · 91 Grand · nightMon 04:00 · 76 Decent · nightMon 05:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 06:00 · 60 Fresh · nightMon 07:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 08:00 · 56 FreshMon 09:00 · 70 DecentMon 10:00 · 74 DecentMon 11:00 · 78 DecentMon 12:00 · 66 DecentMon 13:00 · 86 GrandMon 14:00 · 74 DecentMon 15:00 · 78 DecentMon 16:00 · 90 GrandMon 17:00 · 78 DecentMon 18:00 · 73 DecentMon 19:00 · 77 DecentMon 22:00 · 60 Fresh · nightTue 01:00 · 80 Grand · nightTue 04:00 · 82 Grand · nightTue 07:00 · 73 Decent · nightTue 10:00 · 63 DecentTue 13:00 · 70 DecentTue 16:00 · 83 GrandTue 19:00 · 79 DecentTue 22:00 · 67 Decent · nightWed 01:00 · 75 Decent · nightWed 04:00 · 89 Grand · nightWed 07:00 · 73 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 58 FreshWed 13:00 · 62 DecentWed 16:00 · 59 FreshWed 19:00 · 69 DecentWed 22:00 · 56 Fresh · nightThu 01:00 · 58 Fresh · nightThu 07:00 · 70 Decent · nightThu 13:00 · 69 DecentThu 19:00 · 77 Decent

Fri, 2 Oct, 22:00

87 Grand
  • gentle breeze
  • dry
  • calm sea
  • high tide
  • onshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset0.1 m19 km/h
faces 288° WNW · wind onshore
Waves
0.1 m @ 1 s from SW
Wind
19 km/h WSW · gusts 27
Tide
3.3 m · high
Air
11°C · dry

Meteogram

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

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
21:0089 Grand0.1 m2 sSW11 km/h WSW282.9 m dry11°light winds, dry, calm sea
22:0087 Grand0.1 m1 sSW19 km/h WSW273.3 m ▲dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
23:0090 Grand0.1 m1 sSW16 km/h WSW273.5 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
Saturday, 3 October
00:0086 Grand0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h WSW243.4 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
01:0076 Decent0.1 m1 sSW13 km/h SW213.1 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
02:0071 Decent0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h SW182.6 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
03:0067 Decent0.1 m1 sSW15 km/h S172.0 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
04:0062 Decent0.1 m1 sSW13 km/h SSW151.6 m ▼dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
05:0059 Fresh0.1 m1 sSW13 km/h SSW151.4 m ▼dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
06:0063 Decent0.0 m1 sSW15 km/h S161.5 m ▼dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
07:0067 Decent0.0 m1 sSW16 km/h S161.9 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
08:0072 Decent0.0 m1 sSW12 km/h SSE162.3 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0076 Decent0.0 m1 sSW12 km/h SSE172.8 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0080 Grand0.0 m–SW15 km/h S193.2 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
11:0090 Grand0.0 m–SW17 km/h S213.4 m ▲dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
12:0088 Grand0.1 m–SW14 km/h S243.4 m ▲dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
13:0093 Grand0.1 m–SW10 km/h WSW243.3 m dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
14:0083 Grand0.1 m1 sSW12 km/h SW253.0 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
15:0084 Grand0.1 m2 sSW11 km/h SW262.5 m dry15°light winds, dry, calm sea
16:0074 Decent0.1 m2 sSW14 km/h SW272.0 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
17:0070 Decent0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h SSW271.7 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0066 Decent0.1 m1 sSW13 km/h S241.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0068 Decent0.0 m1 sSW12 km/h SSE201.6 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0072 Decent0.0 m1 sSW18 km/h SSE221.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0066 Decent0.0 m–SSW20 km/h S262.2 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0080 Grand0.1 m–SSW19 km/h S282.6 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
23:0074 Decent0.1 m1 sSW20 km/h S302.9 m dry11°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
Sunday, 4 October
00:0089 Grand0.1 m2 sSW19 km/h S323.1 m ▲dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
01:0079 Decent0.1 m2 sSW21 km/h S353.1 m ▲dry11°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
02:0074 Decent0.2 m2 sSW26 km/h S363.0 m dry11°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
03:0053 Fresh0.2 m2 sSW29 km/h S372.6 m dry11°fresh breeze, dry, calm sea
04:0064 Decent0.2 m2 sSW26 km/h S372.2 m dry11°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
05:0059 Fresh0.2 m2 sSW23 km/h S361.8 m dry11°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
06:0053 Fresh0.2 m2 sSW22 km/h S351.6 m ▼dry11°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
07:0057 Fresh0.1 m2 sSW20 km/h S341.7 m ▼dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
08:0060 Fresh0.1 m2 sSW23 km/h S331.9 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0064 Decent0.1 m2 sSW22 km/h S342.2 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0071 Decent0.1 m2 sSW24 km/h S352.5 m 0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
11:0075 Decent0.1 m2 sSW22 km/h S352.9 m 0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
12:0079 Decent0.1 m2 sSW22 km/h S353.2 m ▲0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
13:0083 Grand0.2 m2 sSW22 km/h SSW363.3 m ▲0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
14:0081 Grand0.2 m2 sSW22 km/h SSW373.3 m ▲0.1 mm16°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
15:0077 Decent0.2 m2 sSW24 km/h SSW383.1 m 0.1 mm16°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
16:0073 Decent0.2 m2 sSW24 km/h SW392.8 m 0.1 mm16°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
17:0069 Decent0.1 m2 sSW25 km/h SW392.4 m 0.1 mm16°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0064 Decent0.1 m2 sSW20 km/h SSW382.0 m 0.1 mm16°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0070 Decent0.1 m2 sSW17 km/h SSW371.7 m ▼dry16°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0066 Decent0.1 m2 sSW19 km/h SW421.6 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea

Where the energy comes from

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

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

Tide today

Buncrana, 1 km away · metres above chart datum
03:5510:0516:3022:50
Low 03:55 · 1.1 mHigh 10:05 · 3.7 mLow 16:30 · 1.3 mHigh 22:50 · 3.5 m

The spot

Faces
288° WNW
Swell window
W 280° → WNW 290°
Exposure
Sheltered · model cell 1.7 km out
Water
Sufficient Quality

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 Poor, 2023 Poor, 2022 Poor. The EPA flags a short-term pollution risk here after heavy rain.

Beach profile (PDF) · beaches.ie

On the ground

No lifeguard listedToiletsParkingYesAccessible: YesDogs on lead

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

The Swilly Sauna · Main Beach car park, Rathmullan · 6 km · mobile

The Hot Barrel Sauna · Portsalon Pier (also Kerrykeel Pier) · 13 km · mobile

The Sea View Sauna (Culdaff) · Culdaff Beach car park · 26 km · fixed

itSaunatrailer · The Wee Beach, Marble Hill, Dunfanaghy · 28 km · fixed

Lady's Bay beach consists of a sandy beach in Lough Swilly confined by Buncrana pier to the South and a small rocky outcrop 550m to the North. It is one of a series of beaches along the West of Inishowen. Lady's Bay beach supports a number of different plant and wildlife species. Important wildlife species include otters and Mallard, while important plant species include Lady's fern and wood sage. Lady's Bay beach is part of The Lough Swilly SAC which is of conservation importance and contains good examples of at least four habitats listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. Activities at Lady's Bay beach include swimming, boating, power boating, jet skiing and other land-based activities on the beach. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.02633 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately 550m. There is a medium gradient off Lady's Bay Beach continuing out at a medium slope before beginning to get gradually deeper until it reaches the channel.

Put Lady's Bay, Buncrana 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
🌊 Lady's Bay, Buncrana dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mSat, 3 Oct 12:30–13:30 · light winds, dry, calm sea
🌊 Lady's Bay, Buncrana dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.2 mSun, 4 Oct 12:30–13:30 · moderate breeze, dry, calm sea

Nearby spots

Lisfannon

4 km · Co. Donegal · Good Quality

Rathmullan

6 km · Co. Donegal · Good Quality

Lough Doo

8 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Gort Lough

8 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.