Richards Bay tides today
- Tide now 0.9 ft ↓ falling · low 11:09 pm (0.9 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 5:40–6:30 pm good day · 8/10
- Beach tomorrow 9:00–11:00 am Poor beach day · 4/10
- Waves · water 5.1 ft · 75 °F moderate · 8.1 s from the south-southeast
- Wind · air 0 mph · 64 °F calm · mainly clear
- Sun 5:02 am–6:09 pm 13 h 7 min of daylight
- Moon 93% · 9:04 pm waning gibbous · rises at 9:04 pm
- Diving tomorrow 10:30 am–12:10 pm average day · 5/10
Today in Richards Bay there are high tides at 4:39 am (7.1 ft) and 4:55 pm (7.3 ft) and low tides at 10:42 am and 11:09 pm. Tide coefficient 104. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 11:09 pm. The sun rises at 5:02 am and sets at 6:09 pm: 13 h 7 min of daylight. The moon is 93% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 9:04 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:08 am to 2:08 am and from 12:39 pm to 2:39 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 5.1 ft waves. There is no wind. Mainly clear, 64 °F.
Fishing in Richards Bay today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 4:39 am, coefficient 104
- Sunrise at 5:02 am
- Rising pressure (+0.19 inHg in 24 h), light cross-shore wind (7 mph) and 7.5 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 104 (big spring tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 4:40 am to 5:30 am, combines the 4:39 am high tide and sunrise, though with rising pressure. Also good from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, with the 4:55 pm high tide, sunset and a light onshore breeze. Also worth a try from 9:40 am to 11:40 am, with the 10:42 am low tide and a light onshore breeze, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: giant trevally, dusky grouper, bluefin trevally and striped mullet. What you can catch
Beach day in Richards Bay
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- Feels like 76 °F: pleasant
- Onshore breeze (9 mph)
- Water at 75 °F (nice)
- Low tide at 10:42 am: more sand
- Dangerous for swimming: 7.2 ft waves every 7 s; high rip current risk
Dangerous surf during beach hours. Stay out if the red flag is up, and never swim where there is no lifeguard.
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Dangerous · 7.2 ft
7.2 ft waves every 7 s: dangerous for swimming. Stay out if the red flag is up. High rip current risk. If you're caught in a rip current, don't swim against it: swim parallel to shore and wave for help. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 75 °F
Nice for swimming.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 10 · SPF 50
Max UV 10 (very high): SPF 50 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. Seek shade 10:00 am–2:00 pm (very high UV).
- Wind 9 mph
Onshore breeze (9 mph).
- Tide & sand 11:09 pm
Low tide at 10:42 am and 11:09 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 4:39 am and 4:55 pm. Coefficient 104 (spring tides): little sand left at high tide.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Richards Bay
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Alkantstrand 4.0 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Parking
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Richards Bay
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Richards Bay
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 4:39 am 7.1 ft · coef. 104
- ▼ Low tide 10:42 am 0.8 ft
- ▲ High tide 4:55 pm 7.3 ft · coef. 100
- ▼ Next low tide 11:09 pm 0.9 ft
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 14 min to low tide at 11:09 pm.
Tide coefficient 104 for the 4:39 am high tide and 100 for the 4:55 pm high tide. Big spring tides. The water rises and falls 6.5 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on September 12 (7.7 ft) and the lowest, on March 20 (0.3 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above chart datum: the lowest astronomical tide (LAT), the zero of nautical charts in Europe. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. chart datum (LAT)
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 27 (coefficient 108, 7.0 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 20, 1.1 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 5:02 am · 6:09 pm | High tide 4:39 am · 7.1 ft | Low tide 10:42 am · 0.8 ft | High tide 4:55 pm · 7.3 ft | Low tide 11:09 pm · 0.9 ft | Coef. 104 | 93% | Major periods 12:08 am · 12:39 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 5:02 am · 6:10 pm | High tide 5:17 am · 6.8 ft | Low tide 11:19 am · 1.2 ft | High tide 5:33 pm · 6.8 ft | Low tide 11:47 pm · 1.3 ft | Coef. 95 | 86% | Major periods 1:11 am · 1:44 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 5:01 am · 6:11 pm | High tide 5:57 am · 6.4 ft | Low tide 12:01 pm · 1.7 ft | High tide 6:15 pm · 6.2 ft | — | Coef. 80 | 77% | Major periods 2:16 am · 2:48 pm | Low |
| Sat 31 | 5:00 am · 6:12 pm | Low tide 12:29 am · 1.8 ft | High tide 6:45 am · 5.9 ft | Low tide 12:50 pm · 2.4 ft | High tide 7:05 pm · 5.5 ft | Coef. 62 | 66% | Major periods 3:19 am · 3:49 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 4:59 am · 6:12 pm | Low tide 1:21 am · 2.4 ft | High tide 7:51 am · 5.3 ft | Low tide 2:01 pm · 3.0 ft | High tide 8:21 pm · 4.9 ft | Coef. 44 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:19 am · 4:46 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 4:58 am · 6:13 pm | Low tide 2:39 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 9:44 am · 5.1 ft | Low tide 4:11 pm · 3.3 ft | High tide 10:29 pm · 4.7 ft | Coef. 32 | 44% | Major periods 5:13 am · 5:38 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 4:57 am · 6:14 pm | Low tide 4:44 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 11:42 am · 5.4 ft | Low tide 6:09 pm · 3.0 ft | — | Coef. 37 | 33% | Major periods 6:03 am · 6:26 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above chart datum (LAT). Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Richards Bay station (TICON-4), 3.0 mi from Richards Bay. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database). Source: Hart-Davis, M., Dettmering, D., Seitz, F. (2025), TICON-4: TIdal CONstants based on GESLA-4 sea-level records, SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.17882/109129. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Modified: see https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database#modifications-to-source-data
The sea at Richards Bay
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common2.6 ft
- Significant5.1 ft
- Highest expectedHighest10 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 10 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 10 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Offshore wind. The coast faces southeast and the wind blows from land out to sea: calm shore and clean waves, but watch the drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves ease over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Wednesday 28: 8.1 ft with a period of 7 s, from the south-southeast (moderate).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water warms over the next few days: about 76.6 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+1.9 °F).
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 10:55 pm (local time).
Diving in Richards Bay today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: poor- Slack water around low tide (10:42 am): little current from 10:20 am to 11:00 am
- 6.0 ft swell at 6 s from the south-southeast: strong surge on the bottom
- Light onshore wind (9 mph)
- 0.2 mph current toward the northeast, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 4:39 am (4:20–5:00 am), low tide 10:42 am (10:20–11:00 am), high tide 4:55 pm (4:40–5:10 pm) and low tide 11:09 pm (10:50–11:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 6.7 ft at 7 s) and rain (1.15 in) over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 74.5 °F: a 3 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 6:34 pm. Waning gibbous (93%), rising at 9:04 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:50 am to 11:30 am, combines slack water at low tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high, though with some swell. Also worth a look from 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm, with slack water at high tide, light wind and weak current, though with some swell.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Wrecks: EMODnet Human Activities (AND-International), from UK Hydrographic Office data, CC BY 4.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weather in Richards Bay
Now in Richards Bay
- Low / high
- 64 / 76 °F
- Rain
- 0.01 in · 94%
- Clouds
- 27%
- Humidity
- 84%
- Dew pointDew point
- 59 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 34
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.01 inHg in 3 hours). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Light drizzle | Mainly clear | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Clear sky | Clear |
| Temperature | 66° | 66° | 67° | 73° | 75° | 75° | 70° | 65° |
| Wind (mph) | 12 SSW | 9 SSW | 7 SSW | 9 S | 9 S | 7 SSE | 5 ESE | 2 E |
| Gusts | 22 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 4 |
| Waves | 8.1 ft | 7.9 ft | 7.2 ft | 6.6 ft | 6.0 ft | 5.4 ft | 5.2 ft | 5.2 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 12:00 am 64° 1 W 5.1 ft
- 3:00 am 63° 2 W 5.1 ft
- 6:00 am 65° 3 W 5.1 ft
- 9:00 am 73° 2 S 5.0 ft
- 12:00 pm 75° 7 ESE 4.9 ft
- 3:00 pm 74° 10 E 4.9 ft
- 6:00 pm 69° 7 ENE 4.9 ft
- 9:00 pm 63° 4 NNE 4.7 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 64 / 76 °F | 12 mph S | 8.1 ft | 4:39 am · 4:55 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 61 / 75 °F | 10 mph E | 5.2 ft | 5:17 am · 5:33 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 60 / 82 °F | 12 mph NNE | 5.2 ft | 5:57 am · 6:15 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 65 / 85 °F | 15 mph NNE | 5.4 ft | 6:45 am · 7:05 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 68 / 87 °F | 16 mph N | 4.5 ft | 7:51 am · 8:21 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 71 / 76 °F | 10 mph SSW | 4.1 ft | 9:44 am · 10:29 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 68 / 75 °F | 7 mph S | 3.9 ft | 11:42 am | |
| Wed 4 | 71 / 85 °F | 9 mph NE | 4.2 ft | 12:11 am · 12:48 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 72 / 93 °F | 13 mph NNE | 4.0 ft | 1:08 am · 1:32 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 66 / 76 °F | 19 mph SW | 4.4 ft | 1:50 am · 2:07 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 66 / 79 °F | 7 mph S | 4.9 ft | 2:25 am · 2:39 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 67 / 91 °F | 15 mph NNE | 6.2 ft | 2:57 am · 3:08 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 76 / 83 °F | 17 mph N | 5.8 ft | 3:27 am · 3:37 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 68 / 98 °F | 19 mph N | 9.2 ft | 3:56 am · 4:04 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 61° / 75° 5.2 ft
- Fri 30 Clear sky 60° / 82° 5.2 ft
- Sat 31 Partly cloudy 65° / 85° 5.4 ft
- Sun 1 Light drizzle 68° / 87° 4.5 ft
- Mon 2 Light drizzle 71° / 76° 4.1 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 68° / 75° 3.9 ft
- Wed 4 Light drizzle 71° / 85° 4.2 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- The models Partly agree · medium confidence: unsure about rain today. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer and normal rain. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−2.5 °F; normal high: 78 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 10:55 pm (local time).
The sun in Richards Bay
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 4:09 am
- Full dark 7:03 pm
- Civil dawn 4:38 am
- Civil dusk 6:34 pm
- Solar noon 11:36 am (74° high)
- Daylight 13 h 7 min (+2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:37 pm
- Full dark 7:03 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,362,039 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Richards Bay
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,471 mi away and looks 32′ 46″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:08–2:08 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 12:39–2:39 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 5:49–6:49 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 8:34–9:34 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 10:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 9:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 1:48 pmNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 4:54 pmNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Richards Bay
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Jetty 3.5 mi
- Jetty 3.9 mi
- Jetty 4.0 mi
- Boat ramp 2.8 mi
- Boat ramp 2.8 mi
- Boat ramp 2.8 mi
- Fish On Tackle & Bait 4.2 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Nearest lighthouse
Richardsbaai Noord-Breekwatervuurtoring 4.0 mi east
Other lighthouses nearby: Richard's Bay (5.5 mi east).
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Richards BayTides nearby
- Richards Bay Harbour3.0 mi
- Kampstrand4.2 mi
- Soetwaterstrand4.4 mi
- Nontshingo4.9 mi
- Nzalabantu9.1 mi
- ESikhaleni10 mi
- Mtunzini21 mi
- Maphelana35 mi
- Saint Lucia36 mi
- Tugela Mouth45 mi
Richards Bay at a glance
- Town or city of about 252,968 people. Coordinates: 28.783° S, 32.038° E.
- It is 96 mi northeast of Durban, the main place in KwaZulu-Natal. The sun rises 3 min earlier and sets 5 min earlier than in Durban.
- The nearest tide station, Richards Bay, is 3.0 mi to the southeast.
- Its coast faces southeast.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Richards Bay Harbour (3.0 mi), Alkantstrand (4.0 mi), Kampstrand (4.2 mi), Soetwaterstrand (4.4 mi).
Questions about Richards BayQuestions
What time is high tide today in Richards Bay?
Today in Richards Bay there are high tides at 4:39 am (7.1 ft) and 4:55 pm (7.3 ft) and low tides at 10:42 am and 11:09 pm. Tide coefficient 104.
What time is sunset today in Richards Bay?
At 6:09 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:34 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Richards Bay?
At 5:02 am. First light comes at 4:08 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 93% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 9:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 12:08–2:08 am, Minor 5:49–6:49 am, Major 12:39–2:39 pm, Minor 8:34–9:34 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Richards Bay?
Light drizzle, from 64 °F to 76 °F, with calm and a 94% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Richards Bay?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 5.1 ft waves with a period of 8.1 s from the south-southeast. The water is 75.0 °F.
When is the best time to visit Richards Bay?
The best time to visit Richards Bay is from May to September: highs of 73 °F to 77 °F, about 4 rainy days a month and 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Richards Bay station, with constants from TICON-4 (Hart-Davis, Dettmering and Seitz, 2025, SEANOE), licensed CC BY 4.0, via Slackwater database (changes). Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).