Frequently asked questions

How Shaka rates conditions, fully transparently. Ratings and levels are indications computed from forecast models: they never replace your own judgement, on-site observation, or safety guidelines at sea.

How is a slot's rating out of 10 computed?

Each slot gets a rating out of 10 that combines five criteria, weighted by their real influence on session quality. The rating is specific to each spot: the same swell can be excellent here and mediocre elsewhere, depending on orientation and bottom type.

CriterionWeightWhat matters

Wind30 %The most decisive. Offshore (from land) or glassy = ideal; onshore (from sea) = unfavourable. Strong wind (beyond ~30 km/h) degrades the rating even when offshore.

Swell size25 %Top rating when the height falls in the spot's ideal range. Too small (mushy) or too big (unmanageable) lowers the rating.

Period20 %The time between two waves. Below ~6 s it's chop; from ~13–14 s the swell is long, organised and powerful.

Swell direction15 %How well the swell arrives along the spot's exposure axis. Perfectly aligned = top; off-angle = the energy slips past.

Tide10 %Based on the tide the spot prefers (high, low, mid). Neutral when the spot works at any tide or the data is missing.

Safety caps: when the sea becomes unmanageable, the rating is capped — we'll never give a good rating to dangerous conditions. A swell exceeding twice the spot's ideal size, or storm-force wind (> 60 km/h), caps the rating around 4/10.

How to read the rating

9–10 Perfect7–8,9 Good5–6,9 Fair3–4,9 Weak< 3 Poor

How is a slot's required level determined?

Each slot shows the minimum level advised to enjoy it safely. The dominant factor is the wave face height estimated at the shore (derived from the offshore swell and its period):

Wave faceMin level

up to ~0.9 mBeginner

~0.9 to 1.5 mIntermediate

~1.5 to 2.3 mAdvanced

beyond ~2.3 mExpert

Three situations raise the requirement by one notch:

Dangerous bottom (reef or point break) as soon as it exceeds ~1 m of face.
Strong onshore wind (> 25 km/h): messy sea, less accessible to beginners.
Very long swell (≥ 14 s) on already sizeable waves (≥ 1.5 m): lots of power, requires experience.

A spot never drops below its base level (a famous big reef stays “advanced” even on a tiny day). Next to the rating, a safety flag turns orange (face ≥ 2 m or wind > 30 km/h) then red (face ≥ 3 m, huge swell or storm).

The “suited to my level” filter on lists and the map keeps slots that are both accessible (≥ your level) and engaging enough to not get bored (≤ one notch above).

Where does the data come from, and how often?

Forecasts come from Open-Meteo (wave and weather models, public sources like ECMWF / GFS). They are refreshed 4 times a day. Spots and base maps rely on OpenStreetMap. The further ahead, the less reliable the forecast: a reliability index accompanies it on spot pages.

How many days of forecast can I see?

For free, the next 3 days on all spots. With Shaka Premium, the horizon extends to 10 days across all spots.

Do the ratings guarantee a good (or safe) session?

No. These are indications from models: the reality on site (currents, crowds, sandbanks, local weather) may differ. Always check conditions with your own eyes, adapt to your real level, and follow safety guidelines and local regulations.