Saint Helena Bay tides today
- Tide now 1.2 ft ↑ rising · high 4:52 am (5.4 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 3:50–5:50 am good day · 7/10
- Beach tomorrow 10:00 am–2:00 pm Fair beach day · 5/10
- Waves · water 3.7 ft · 57 °F slight · 9.8 s from the southwest
- Wind · air 10 mph · 64 °F from the S, gusts 18 · clear
- Surf tomorrow 1.6–2.5 ft Fair day · 5/10 · 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- Sun 5:53 am–7:11 pm 13 h 18 min of daylight
- Moon 93% · 10:15 pm waning gibbous · rises at 10:15 pm
Today in Saint Helena Bay there are high tides at 4:08 am (5.6 ft) and 4:24 pm (5.8 ft) and low tides at 10:09 am and 10:39 pm. Tide coefficient 101. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 4:52 am. The sun rises at 5:53 am and sets at 7:11 pm: 13 h 18 min of daylight. The moon is 93% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 10:15 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:07 am to 3:07 am and from 1:38 pm to 3:38 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 3.7 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the south (10 mph). Clear, 64 °F.
Fishing in Saint Helena Bay today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Low tide at 10:39 pm
- Minor period 9:45–10:45 pm (moonrise)
- Falling pressure (−0.17 inHg in 24 h), light offshore wind (11 mph) and some swell (3.5 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 101 (big spring tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 9:40 pm to 10:40 pm, combines the 10:39 pm low tide, moonrise, falling pressure and some swell. Also worth a try from 3:20 pm to 4:30 pm, with the 4:24 pm high tide, a major period, falling pressure and some swell, though with moderate wind. Also good from 9:10 am to 11:10 am, with the 10:09 am low tide and some swell.
Species with the most records nearby: common smooth-hound, bluefish, Atlantic horse mackerel and thornback ray. What you can catch
Beach day in Saint Helena Bay
Is it a beach day?
4 good hours- Sunny
- Feels like 85 °F: beach weather
- Calm for swimming: 1.9 ft waves
- Low tide at 10:09 am: more sand
- Light offshore wind (12 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
- UV 11 (very high): SPF 50 sunscreen
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 1.9 ft
1.9 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 57 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 11 · SPF 50
Max UV 11 (very high): SPF 50 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. Seek shade 11:00 am–3:00 pm (very high UV).
- Wind 18 mph
Fresh offshore wind (18 mph): blowing sand. Skip the inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand 10:09 am
Low tide at 10:09 am and 10:39 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 4:08 am and 4:24 pm. Coefficient 101 (spring tides): little sand left at high tide.
The best window, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, brings sunshine, beach weather, a calm sea and low tide at 10:09 am, though with light offshore wind and very high UV.
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 Saint Helena Bay
We don't know of any named beaches within 6.2 mi of Saint Helena Bay.
Missing one? Beaches come from OpenStreetMap: you can add it there. Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Saint Helena Bay
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Saint Helena Bay
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 4:08 am 5.6 ft · coef. 101
- ▼ Low tide 10:09 am 0.9 ft
- ▲ High tide 4:24 pm 5.8 ft · coef. 97
- ▼ Low tide 10:39 pm 0.6 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 4 h 52 min to high tide at 4:52 am.
Tide coefficient 101 for the 4:08 am high tide and 97 for the 4:24 pm high tide. Big spring tides. The water rises and falls 5.2 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 March 20 (6.4 ft) and the lowest, on May 17 (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 105, 5.8 ft range). The smallest, on October 18 (coefficient 23, 1.3 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 | 5:53 am · 7:11 pm | High tide 4:08 am · 5.6 ft | Low tide 10:09 am · 0.9 ft | High tide 4:24 pm · 5.8 ft | Low tide 10:39 pm · 0.6 ft | Coef. 101 | 93% | Major periods 1:07 am · 1:38 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 5:52 am · 7:12 pm | High tide 4:52 am · 5.4 ft | Low tide 10:56 am · 1.2 ft | High tide 5:10 pm · 5.4 ft | Low tide 11:26 pm · 1.0 ft | Coef. 91 | 86% | Major periods 2:10 am · 2:42 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 5:51 am · 7:12 pm | High tide 5:41 am · 5.1 ft | Low tide 11:50 am · 1.5 ft | High tide 6:04 pm · 4.9 ft | — | Coef. 77 | 77% | Major periods 3:15 am · 3:47 pm | Low |
| Sat 31 | 5:50 am · 7:13 pm | Low tide 12:21 am · 1.5 ft | High tide 6:40 am · 4.8 ft | Low tide 12:59 pm · 1.9 ft | High tide 7:11 pm · 4.5 ft | Coef. 60 | 66% | Major periods 4:18 am · 4:48 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 5:49 am · 7:14 pm | Low tide 1:33 am · 1.9 ft | High tide 7:57 am · 4.5 ft | Low tide 2:34 pm · 2.2 ft | High tide 8:40 pm · 4.2 ft | Coef. 47 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:17 am · 5:44 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 5:48 am · 7:15 pm | Low tide 3:05 am · 2.1 ft | High tide 9:31 am · 4.5 ft | Low tide 4:18 pm · 2.1 ft | High tide 10:19 pm · 4.2 ft | Coef. 47 | 44% | Major periods 6:11 am · 6:36 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 5:47 am · 7:16 pm | Low tide 4:33 am · 2.1 ft | High tide 10:53 am · 4.7 ft | Low tide 5:36 pm · 1.8 ft | High tide 11:35 pm · 4.4 ft | Coef. 57 | 33% | Major periods 7:01 am · 7:24 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
Saint Helena Bay has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Saldanha Bay (TICON-4), 18 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger.
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 Saint Helena Bay
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.8 ft
- Significant3.7 ft
- Highest expectedHighest7.3 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 7.3 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 7.3 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Offshore wind. The coast faces north 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 build over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Thursday 29: 5.1 ft with a period of 9 s, from the southwest (moderate).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water about normal for late October.
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 12:00 am (local time).
Surf in Saint Helena Bay today
Surf today
Poor- 0.7–1.0 ft surf at the shore, small: good for learning or a longboard
- 1.0 ft swell at 10 s from the west-southwest, average; it hits this coast at an angle
- Light offshore wind (12 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Rising tide (high tide at 4:24 pm)
- Light: First light 5:27 am · sunrise 5:53 am · sunset 7:11 pm · last light 7:37 pm
- Tide: high 4:08 am (5.6 ft), low 10:09 am (0.9 ft), high 4:24 pm (5.8 ft) and low 10:39 pm (0.6 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 56.5 °F–57.9 °F: a 5/4 fullsuit with booties (and a hood if it’s windy).
- Energy: 23 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, has light offshore wind, though with small waves. 5:27 am to 9:00 am can also work, with light offshore wind, though with small waves and a short-period swell.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Saint Helena Bay today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around low tide (10:09 am): little current from 9:50 am to 10:30 am
- 1.4 ft swell at 7 s from the west: barely any surge
- Light offshore wind (9 mph)
- 0.0 mph current toward the east, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 4:08 am (3:50–4:30 am), low tide 10:09 am (9:50–10:30 am), high tide 4:24 pm (4:00–4:40 pm) and low tide 10:39 pm (10:20–11:00 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Swell (up to 2.5 ft at 7 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 56.5–57.9 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 7:37 pm. Waning gibbous (93%), rising at 10:15 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:30 am to 11:10 am, combines slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high.
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 Saint Helena Bay
Now in Saint Helena Bay
- Low / high
- 55 / 87 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 0%
- Humidity
- 76%
- Dew pointDew point
- 56 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 20
- 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 (−0.02 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 | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear sky | Mainly clear | Partly cloudy | Clear |
| Temperature | 58° | 56° | 56° | 68° | 84° | 85° | 73° | 65° |
| Wind (mph) | 8 S | 7 SSE | 7 SSE | 9 SSE | 9 S | 14 SSW | 17 SSW | 12 S |
| Gusts | 17 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 26 | 33 | 23 |
| Waves | 2.2 ft | 2.0 ft | 2.0 ft | 1.9 ft | 2.1 ft | 2.7 ft | 3.2 ft | 3.5 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° 10 S 3.7 ft
- 3:00 am 61° 7 S 3.9 ft
- 6:00 am 61° 5 S 4.2 ft
- 9:00 am 73° 4 SW 4.5 ft
- 12:00 pm 87° 6 SW 4.7 ft
- 3:00 pm 87° 15 SSW 4.8 ft
- 6:00 pm 78° 14 SSW 5.0 ft
- 9:00 pm 68° 13 S 5.1 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 55 / 87 °F | 18 mph S | 3.6 ft | 4:08 am · 4:24 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 59 / 88 °F | 15 mph SSW | 5.1 ft | 4:52 am · 5:10 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 62 / 92 °F | 20 mph SSW | 5.1 ft | 5:41 am · 6:04 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 62 / 83 °F | 17 mph SSW | 4.5 ft | 6:40 am · 7:11 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 61 / 77 °F | 19 mph SSW | 4.7 ft | 7:57 am · 8:40 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 57 / 81 °F | 17 mph SSW | 4.0 ft | 9:31 am · 10:19 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 58 / 80 °F | 15 mph SSW | 3.0 ft | 10:53 am · 11:35 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 60 / 77 °F | 10 mph SW | 2.6 ft | 11:53 am | |
| Thu 5 | 64 / 75 °F | 12 mph W | 3.5 ft | 12:29 am · 12:40 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 62 / 80 °F | 13 mph SSW | 3.8 ft | 1:12 am · 1:20 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 60 / 82 °F | 9 mph WSW | 3.0 ft | 1:50 am · 1:55 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 58 / 65 °F | 17 mph NNW | 2.3 ft | 2:24 am · 2:28 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 58 / 61 °F | 12 mph N | 2.8 ft | 2:57 am · 3:00 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 56 / 70 °F | 12 mph SSW | 2.1 ft | 3:28 am · 3:30 pm |
- Thu 29 Clear sky 59° / 88° 5.1 ft
- Fri 30 Overcast 62° / 92° 5.1 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 62° / 83° 4.5 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 61° / 77° 4.7 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 57° / 81° 4.0 ft
- Tue 3 Partly cloudy 58° / 80° 3.0 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 60° / 77° 2.6 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 They don't agree · low confidence: unsure about temperature today. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer and normal rain. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+12.7 °F; normal high: 74 °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 12:00 am (local time).
The sun in Saint Helena Bay
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 4:57 am
- Full dark 8:07 pm
- Civil dawn 5:27 am
- Civil dusk 7:37 pm
- Solar noon 12:32 pm (70° high)
- Daylight 13 h 18 min (+2 min)
- Evening golden hour 6:37 pm
- Full dark 8:07 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,361,087 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Saint Helena Bay
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,471 mi away and looks 32′ 46″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 1:07–3:07 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:38–3:38 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 6:36–7:36 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 9:45–10:45 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 Saint Helena Bay
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
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.
Water depth
Shallow, gradualShallow, gradual bottom: you need to go 1 mi out for 33 ft of water.
From the shoreline (0.35 mi from Saint Helena Bay) out to sea, heading north.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep0.7 mi
- 33 ft deep1 mi
- 66 ft deep3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 0.7 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 1 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Rough estimate: here the data comes in cells of about 0.3 mi and misses details near shore (rocks, sandbars, small coves).
Source: NOAA ETOPO 2022 (CC0), cells of about 0.3 mi; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Stompneus Point Light 5.3 mi northwest
- Tower height
- 85 ft
- Built
- 1920
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Saint Helena BayTides nearby
- Laingville2.4 mi
- Stompneusbaai4.5 mi
- Laaiplek7.1 mi
- Paternoster8.8 mi
- Dwarskersbos12 mi
- Jacobs Bay16 mi
- Saldanha18 mi
- Saldanha Bay18 mi
- Langebaan23 mi
- Elandsbaai36 mi
Saint Helena Bay at a glance
- Town or city of about 13,813 people. Coordinates: 32.767° S, 18.033° E.
- It is 83 mi north of Cape Town, the main place in Western Cape. The sun rises 3 min later and sets at the same time than in Cape Town.
- The nearest tide station, Saldanha Bay, is 18 mi to the south.
- Its coast faces north.
Questions about Saint Helena BayQuestions
What time is high tide today in Saint Helena Bay?
Today in Saint Helena Bay there are high tides at 4:08 am (5.6 ft) and 4:24 pm (5.8 ft) and low tides at 10:09 am and 10:39 pm. Tide coefficient 101.
What time is sunset today in Saint Helena Bay?
At 7:11 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 7:37 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Saint Helena Bay?
At 5:52 am. First light comes at 4:55 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 1:07–3:07 am, Minor 6:36–7:36 am, Major 1:38–3:38 pm, Minor 9:45–10:45 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Saint Helena Bay?
Overcast, from 55 °F to 87 °F, with a gentle breeze from the south (10 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Saint Helena Bay?
Slight (Douglas 3): 3.7 ft waves with a period of 9.8 s from the southwest. The water is 56.7 °F.
When is the best time to visit Saint Helena Bay?
The best time to visit Saint Helena Bay is from October to March: highs of 73 °F to 81 °F, about 2 rainy days a month and 10 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: Saldanha 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).