Aptos tides today
- Tide now 2.0 ft ↓ falling · low 7:10 pm (-0.9 ft)
- Best time to fish 7:30–8:10 pm average day · 6/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 2/10
- Waves · water 3.6 ft · 65 °F slight · 10.8 s from the west
- Wind · air 7 mph · 68 °F from the WSW, gusts 8 · overcast
- Surf today 1.7–2.6 ft Fair day · 4/10 · 6:00–6:41 pm
- Sun 7:28 am–6:14 pm 10 h 46 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 8:03 pm waning gibbous · rises at 8:03 pm
- Coastal Flood Advisory: minor flooding along the shore at high tide. Until Sat 31, 6:00 pm. NWS San Francisco CA
Today in Aptos there are high tides at 1:01 am (3.8 ft) and 11:39 am (6.2 ft) and low tides at 5:19 am and 7:10 pm. Tide coefficient 85. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 7:10 pm. The sun rises at 7:28 am and sets at 6:14 pm: 10 h 46 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:03 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:51 am to 3:51 am and from 2:22 pm to 4:22 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 3.6 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the west-southwest (7 mph). Overcast, 68 °F.
Fishing in Aptos today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- High tide at 11:39 am, coefficient 82
- Minor period 10:09–11:09 am (moonset)
- Steady pressure (30.00 inHg), light onshore wind (6 mph) and some swell (3.6 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 85 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 10:40 am to 12:40 pm, combines the 11:39 am high tide, moonset, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also good from 7:30 pm to 8:10 pm, with the 7:10 pm low tide, moonrise and some swell. Also good from 2:20 pm to 4:20 pm, with a major period, a light onshore breeze and some swell.
Species with the most records nearby: black rockfish, lingcod, California halibut and blue shark. October is one of the months when these are seen most: blue shark and kelp bass. What you can catch
Beach day in Aptos
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- Onshore breeze (9 mph)
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 65 °F (cool)
- Feels like 67 °F: a bit cool
- Swim with care: 3.6 ft waves every 11 s; moderate rip current risk
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 3.6 ft
3.6 ft waves every 11 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Moderate rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 65 °F
Cool: refreshing on a hot day.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 9 mph
Onshore breeze (9 mph).
- Tide & sand 7:10 pm
Low tide at 5:19 am and 7:10 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 1:01 am and 11:39 am.
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 Aptos
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Rio Del Mar Beach 0.9 mi · S
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Beer Can Beach 1.8 mi · SE
- Potbelly Beach 1.8 mi · W
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Esplanade Park Beach 2.8 mi · W
- Parking
- Capitola Beach 2.9 mi · W
- Parking
- Hooper Beach 3.2 mi · W
- Parking
- Moran Lake Beach 4.6 mi · W
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Seabright Beach 6.0 mi · W
- Lifeguard
- Restrooms
- Parking
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for California (California State Water Resources Control Board).
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 Aptos
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Aptos
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 1:01 am 3.8 ft · coef. 85
- ▼ Low tide 5:19 am 2.6 ft
- ▲ High tide 11:39 am 6.2 ft · coef. 82
- ▼ Next low tide 7:10 pm -0.9 ft
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 3 h 17 min to low tide at 7:10 pm.
Tide coefficient 85 for the 1:01 am high tide and 82 for the 11:39 am high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 7.1 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 December 24 (6.8 ft) and the lowest, on June 16 (-1.9 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero of US nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. MLLW
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 8 to 9 (coefficient 92, 4.8 ft range). The smallest, on October 17 (coefficient 35, 3.8 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 | 7:28 am · 6:14 pm | High tide 1:01 am · 3.8 ft | Low tide 5:19 am · 2.6 ft | High tide 11:39 am · 6.2 ft | Low tide 7:10 pm · -0.9 ft | Coef. 85 | 91% | Major periods 1:51 am · 2:22 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:29 am · 6:13 pm | High tide 2:10 am · 3.7 ft | Low tide 6:03 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 12:26 pm · 6.1 ft | Low tide 8:08 pm · -0.8 ft | Coef. 78 | 83% | Major periods 2:55 am · 3:27 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:30 am · 6:12 pm | High tide 3:26 am · 3.7 ft | Low tide 7:00 am · 3.1 ft | High tide 1:22 pm · 5.8 ft | Low tide 9:11 pm · -0.6 ft | Coef. 70 | 73% | Major periods 3:59 am · 4:31 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:31 am · 6:11 pm | High tide 4:43 am · 3.7 ft | Low tide 8:19 am · 3.3 ft | High tide 2:30 pm · 5.3 ft | Low tide 10:17 pm · -0.4 ft | Coef. 63 | 62% | Major periods 5:01 am · 5:30 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:32 am · 5:10 pm | High tide 4:46 am · 3.9 ft | Low tide 9:03 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 2:51 pm · 4.9 ft | Low tide 10:20 pm · -0.2 ft | Coef. 62 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:58 am · 5:25 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:33 am · 5:09 pm | High tide 5:35 am · 4.2 ft | Low tide 10:43 am · 2.7 ft | High tide 4:17 pm · 4.6 ft | Low tide 11:16 pm · 0.1 ft | Coef. 67 | 39% | Major periods 5:50 am · 6:15 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:34 am · 5:08 pm | High tide 6:14 am · 4.6 ft | Low tide 12:00 pm · 2.1 ft | High tide 5:39 pm · 4.3 ft | — | Coef. 73 | 29% | Major periods 6:39 am · 7:02 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above MLLW. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Aptos has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Santa Cruz (NOAA), 6.6 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. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Monterey reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Aptos
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.8 ft
- Significant3.6 ft
- Highest expectedHighest7.2 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 7.2 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 7.2 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Onshore wind. The coast faces southwest and the wind blows straight in from the sea: more surf and backwash at the shore, and bait and boats drift toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Monday 2: 4.3 ft with a period of 15 s, from the west (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 warmer than normal for late October (+8.7 °F).
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 3:53 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 46236, courtesy of CDIP (Coastal Data Information Program, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), via the NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Surf in Aptos today
Surf today
Fair- 1.8–2.8 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 3.0 ft swell at 6 s from the west-northwest, short: weak, messy waves
- Almost no wind (4 mph): glassy water
- Rising tide (high tide at 11:39 am)
- Light: First light 7:01 am · sunrise 7:28 am · sunset 6:14 pm · last light 6:41 pm
- Tide: high 1:01 am (3.8 ft), low 5:19 am (2.6 ft), high 11:39 am (6.2 ft) and low 7:10 pm (-0.9 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 64.6 °F: a 3/2 fullsuit.
- Energy: 66 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 7:01 am to 11:00 am, has a good size and glassy water, though with a short-period swell. 6:00 pm to 6:41 pm can also work, with a good size and glassy water, though with 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 Aptos today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (11:39 am): little current from 11:10 am to 12:00 pm
- 2.8 ft swell at 8 s from the west-northwest: some surge on the bottom
- Light onshore wind (6 mph)
- 0.0 mph current toward the east, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 1:01 am (12:30–1:40 am), low tide 5:19 am (4:30–6:00 am), high tide 11:39 am (11:10 am–12:00 pm) and low tide 7:10 pm (6:50–7:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Swell (up to 2.8 ft at 7 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 64.6 °F: a 5 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 6:41 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 8:03 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 11:10 am to 12:30 pm, combines slack water at high tide, 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
- S. S. Palo Alto 1.0 mi
- Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve 12 mi
- Soquel Canyon State Marine Conservation Area 12 mi
- Dive Central 3.1 mi
- Aqua Safaris 3.9 mi
- Tropical Adventures Scuba & Travel 3.9 mi
- California Ocean Adventures 4.6 mi
- Adventure Sports Unlimited 7.3 mi
- Pro Scuba Dive Center 8.2 mi
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
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Weather in Aptos
Now in Aptos
- Low / high
- 47 / 69 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 90%
- Humidity
- 49%
- Dew pointDew point
- 48 °F
- Visibility
- 24 mi
- UV indexUV
- 1 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Moderate · 53
- 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). Over the next 48 hours: −0.05 inHg. 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 | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Overcast | Overcast | Mainly clear | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 51° | 51° | 48° | 55° | 67° | 69° | 65° | 58° |
| Wind (mph) | 4 NNE | 5 NE | 3 NNE | 0 SE | 6 SSW | 8 WSW | 2 SSW | 2 NE |
| Gusts | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Waves | 3.7 ft | 3.7 ft | 3.7 ft | 3.7 ft | 3.6 ft | 3.5 ft | 3.6 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 |
- 3:00 pm 69° 8 WSW 3.5 ft
- 6:00 pm 65° 2 SSW 3.6 ft
- 9:00 pm 58° 2 NE 3.5 ft
- 12:00 am 55° 4 ENE 3.5 ft
- 3:00 am 54° 4 NNW 3.4 ft
- 6:00 am 54° 3 NE 3.4 ft
- 9:00 am 59° 1 N 3.4 ft
- 12:00 pm 63° 2 SSW 3.4 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 47 / 69 °F | 9 mph N | 3.7 ft | 1:01 am · 11:39 am | |
| Thu 29 | 53 / 65 °F | 4 mph N | 3.5 ft | 2:10 am · 12:26 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 51 / 64 °F | 4 mph NW | 3.3 ft | 3:26 am · 1:22 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 50 / 60 °F | 7 mph N | 3.1 ft | 4:43 am · 2:30 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 48 / 64 °F | 8 mph N | 3.7 ft | 4:46 am · 2:51 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 47 / 67 °F | 5 mph NNE | 4.3 ft | 5:35 am · 4:17 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 51 / 67 °F | 5 mph NNE | 4.3 ft | 6:14 am · 5:39 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 51 / 65 °F | 4 mph N | 3.8 ft | 6:49 am · 6:52 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 51 / 64 °F | 4 mph NNW | 3.6 ft | 7:20 am · 7:56 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 52 / 63 °F | 4 mph NW | 10 ft | 7:50 am · 8:55 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 51 / 65 °F | 4 mph WNW | 10 ft | 8:18 am · 9:50 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 52 / 73 °F | 4 mph NNW | 10 ft | 8:46 am · 10:42 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 55 / 75 °F | 4 mph NNW | 10 ft | 9:14 am · 11:33 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 60 / 74 °F | 3 mph SSW | 8.1 ft | 9:43 am |
- Thu 29 Overcast 53° / 65° 3.5 ft
- Fri 30 Partly cloudy 51° / 64° 3.3 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 50° / 60° 3.1 ft
- Sun 1 Mainly clear 48° / 64° 3.7 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 47° / 67° 4.3 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 51° / 67° 4.3 ft
- Wed 4 Partly cloudy 51° / 65° 3.8 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 rain on Saturday 31. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer and wetter. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−2.4 °F; normal high: 71 °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 3:53 pm (local time).
The sun in Aptos
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:31 am
- Full dark 7:12 pm
- Civil dawn 7:01 am
- Civil dusk 6:41 pm
- Solar noon 12:51 pm (40° high)
- Daylight 10 h 46 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:38 pm
- Full dark 7:12 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,351,597 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Aptos
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:51–3:51 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:22–4:22 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 10:09–11:09 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:33–8:33 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 · 12:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pmNov 8 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 3:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 6:54 amNov 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 Aptos
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 6.8 mi
- Postpile 9.0 mi
- Jetty 5.8 mi
- Boat ramp 5.5 mi
- Boat ramp 5.7 mi
- Kayaker's Slipway 6.7 mi
- Boat ramp 6.9 mi
- Boat ramp 7.5 mi
- Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor 5.6 mi
- The Gypsy Fish Company 6.9 mi
- Fuel dock 5.7 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.
Water depth
Deepens quicklyThe bottom deepens quickly: 33 ft of water 0.25 mi from shore.
From the shoreline (0.75 mi from Aptos) out to sea, heading southwest.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep280 ft
- 33 ft deep0.25 mi
- 66 ft deep1.9 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 18 ft just 330 ft out. Good for casting from rocks, jetties or the beach itself; current and surf hit harder here.
- Swimming. The bottom drops quickly near the shore and you are soon out of your depth. Keep an eye on kids and weak swimmers.
- Diving. 33 ft deep 0.25 mi from shore; 66 ft is far out (1.9 mi): for deeper dives, go by boat.
Source: NOAA Southern California Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 100 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Santa Cruz Breakwater Light 5.8 mi west
- Light
- Green light that goes dark once every 4 s · Oc G 4s
- Range
- 8 nautical miles (9.2 mi)
- Light height
- 59 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 41 ft
- Built
- 1964
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near AptosTides nearby
- Rio Del Mar0.6 mi
- Seacliff0.9 mi
- Capitola3.0 mi
- Soquel3.2 mi
- La Selva Beach3.4 mi
- Twin Lakes5.5 mi
- Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf6.8 mi
- Santa Cruz7.3 mi
- Las Lomas12 mi
- Moss Landing13 mi
Aptos at a glance
- Town or city of about 6,220 people. Coordinates: 36.977° N, 121.899° W.
- It is 398 mi northwest of San Diego, the main place in California. The sun rises 25 min later and sets 13 min later than in San Diego.
- The nearest tide station, Santa Cruz, is 6.6 mi to the west.
- Its coast faces southwest.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: SS Palo Alto (0.9 mi), Potbelly Beach (1.6 mi), Capitola Fishing Wharf (3.0 mi), Hooper Beach (3.1 mi).
Questions about AptosQuestions
What time is high tide today in Aptos?
Today in Aptos there are high tides at 1:01 am (3.8 ft) and 11:39 am (6.2 ft) and low tides at 5:19 am and 7:10 pm. Tide coefficient 85.
What time is sunset today in Aptos?
At 6:14 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:41 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Aptos?
At 7:29 am. First light comes at 6:32 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pm.
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 1:51–3:51 am, Minor 10:09–11:09 am, Major 2:22–4:22 pm, Minor 7:33–8:33 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Aptos?
Overcast, from 47 °F to 69 °F, with a light breeze from the west-southwest (7 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Aptos?
Slight (Douglas 3): 3.6 ft waves with a period of 10.8 s from the west. The water is 64.9 °F.
When is the best time to visit Aptos?
The best time to visit Aptos is from June to September: highs of 74 °F to 77 °F, barely 1 rainy day 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: NOAA station Santa Cruz (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).