D and W
- Longboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Intermediate to Beginner
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
D and W is a sheltered beach/jetty break in the Los Angeles area known for generally consistent, small, mushy beach-break waves. It’s strongly associated with northeast winds acting offshore, and the spot is typically best around mid tide. Wave conditions are often described as mellow and functional rather than powerful—sandbar peaks tend to break left and right and frequently feel soft/mushy. Typical sessions are aimed at comfortable, approachable riding, with some quicker rides possible when winter swells increase. Safety is the main concern. The water can be polluted, with the highest risk after rainfall (urban runoff/outfalls near the area). Rocks and the jetty influence can also create rips/subtle rip-current hazards near structures, and locals can be present—so it’s important to be cautious around the jetties and follow local restrictions. Seasonally, winter is favored for the most reliable conditions, and a spring-style wetsuit is often recommended, with warmer options needed only for short summer sessions. Always check current water quality before going in, and avoid the water for 72 hours after heavy rain.
- Fairly consistent sheltered beach/jetty surfing
- Northeast winds are offshore and groom the peaks
- Best at mid tide
- Winter is the most reliable season
- Sheltered beach/jetty setup with generally consistent conditions.
- Northeast offshore winds and mid tide tend to provide the best surfing windows.
- Best season is winter for more favorable swell/offshore wind pairing.
- Pollution is a major hazard here, especially after it rains (avoid after heavy rain).
- Rocks/jetties create hazards and trickier currents/rips near structures.
- Can be sometimes crowded and includes local behavior.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE
- Offshore directions
- NE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Northeast winds described for this spot; Gemini also flags it as sea-breeze/thermal-driven afternoon winds.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Noted as light gusts by Gemini.
- Best Months
- January
- Shadow Zones
- some shelter from jetties for surfing conditions
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Monthly small conditions dominate; spot typically produces small/mushy peaks.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Winds from non-offshore directions (west) can make it choppy.
- Launch
- Big — Wide sandy beach.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and during summer; relatively quiet on weekday mornings.
December through March
By sport
What to expect for each.
Sheltered beach/jetty break with influenced by nearby stone jetties. Often small and mushy, with sandbar peaks that can break left and right; best when winds are northeast offshore and at mid tide.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Both sources emphasize best at mid tide.
- Shelter
- Sheltered — Perplexity: sheltered. Gemini also notes wave conditions are sheltered by jetties but lists shelter level as exposed—so treat as mixed/variable depending on exact lineup and jetty influence.
- Wind Effect
- Northeast winds are offshore and groom the peaks; west winds (thermal/sea-breeze) can make it choppy.
- Bigger Swell
- Often closes out when the swell exceeds 2 meters (Gemini). Perplexity frames it as producing all-rights beach breaks rather than long, powerful surf.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Quality described as good (Perplexity) and average (Gemini); overall matches 'all-rights' conditions on typical days.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Wave power described as soft by Gemini; moderate by Perplexity.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Consistently described as mushy sandbar peaks.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Mushy/sandbar peaks with slow peeling from sources describing mushy character.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short, functional rides before closing out; Perplexity describes it as 'all-rights' and mid-tide friendly.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves typically offer short, functional rides on mushy peaks before closing out on the sand.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for D and W in the full forecast view.
D and W wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–8 ktsGusts 14 kts
- Direction
- SSW206°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 248 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–0.9 m11s period
- Temperature
- 13–24 °C
Over the next 7 days, D and W is forecast for daytime winds of 1–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 14 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.6–0.9 m with a period of about 11s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- rocks
- pollution
- rips
- locals
- rip currents near jetties
- submerged rocks near jetties
- aircraft noise from LAX
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard presence is noted by Gemini.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Spot-level rescue availability described as limited by Gemini; regional context indicates year-round professional lifeguard services across the Beach Cities area.
- Emergency Info
- Rescue availability is limited at the spot; lifeguards are stationed seasonally at Dockweiler State Beach. Emergency services: 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Described as localism/moderate local behavior; also notes 'Beware of locals'.
Rules of the spot
Beware of locals; standard surfing etiquette applies. Respect designated swimming zones during summer months.
- No surfing within 100 feet of jetties (local ordinance).
- Avoid water for 72 hours after heavy rain due to pollution.
- Beware of locals.
- Pollution is a major hazard here, especially after it rains—avoid the water for 72 hours after heavy rain.
- Best around mid tide.
- Check water quality reports before heading out.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Los Angeles
- Nearest Town
- Playa del Rey
- Nearest Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Parking
- Paid parking lots are available at Dockweiler State Beach; street parking is limited on Vista del Mar.
- Public Transport
- Accessible via the LA Metro E (Expo) Line to Santa Monica, Big Blue Bus, and the Beach Cities Transit system.
- Access
- Accessible via Vista del Mar and the Dockweiler State Beach parking lots.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various hotels and short-term rentals available in Playa del Rey and El Segundo.
- Food & Drink
- Seasonal snack bars on the beach; numerous restaurants in nearby Playa del Rey.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are located further north in Playa del Rey or south in Manhattan Beach (spot-level note).
- Gear Storage
- Limited public storage; most facilities are private club-based or associated with specific schools (regional context).
- Gear Repair
- Multiple professional fiberglass and neoprene repair shops are available across nearby Venice, Santa Monica, and the South Bay (regional context).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at D and W?
The best overall months at D and W are January, February, March, December. The best wind months are January.
Which wind directions work at D and W?
D and W works with NE winds. Offshore directions are NE.
What skill level is D and W suitable for?
D and W suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Beginner.