Deadman Beach (Old Malibu)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Deadman Beach is a rocky, exposed point break near Old Malibu that turns into a high-performance surfing spot on the larger winter swell cycle. Conditions are described as thick/heavy and extremely technical, with a shallow rocky reef and large submerged rocks that can make both entry and exit difficult. Wave quality is reported as excellent/good, with fast sections during the right swell period. Providers highlight big-winter behavior, including the point holding large swells and producing fast, peeling rides that can last for substantial distances on a good day—while also increasing the danger as wave size builds. Wind and swell need to line up for the best result. Offshore-leaning north to north-northwest conditions are favored, while typical afternoon north-west winds can blow the wave out quickly. Tidal timing also matters: low to mid tides are repeatedly mentioned, with practical guidance emphasizing mid-tide to avoid the shallowest rocks during setup. Safety and access are the main constraints here. Multiple sources stress heavy localism and caution that the rocks have led to board and fin losses; strict surf etiquette is expected. Strong rip currents can occur on larger swells, and kelp beds plus slippery stones during entry/exit make this a spot where only very experienced surfers should attempt the line-up.
- Expert-only rocky point break with very powerful winter waves
- Fast, peeling sections when winds are supportive
- Most critical challenges are rocks, currents, and localism
- High-performance point break with very powerful winter waves
- Excellent wave quality reported when swell and wind line up
- Works best on the region’s big winter swell windows
- Heavy rocky bottom and difficult entry/exit
- Strong currents on larger swells
- Heavy localism; access is sensitive
- Conditions can be extremely dangerous on big waves
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, E, NNE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Providers describe sea-breeze influence; offshore wind windows vary by time of day and swell/wrap.
- Reliability
- low (reported); also a separate monthly blown probability of 29% is cited
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- January
- Shadow Zones
- The point can offer some protection from light north-west winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky shoreline/point with reef exposure.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Big — Winter swells can be very large; big winter behavior up to ~6 ft+ is referenced.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky shoreline with a difficult entry point over slippery stones.
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Entry is described as difficult due to slippery stones/rocks.
Through the year
Highest crowds during winter swell periods, often dominated by a small group of locals.
December through March
By sport
What to expect for each.
A high-performance rocky point break with challenging entry over slippery stones and heavy localism. Winter swells can make the wave come alive, but conditions are dangerous due to shallow rocks and reef.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- SSE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Low tide is often cited for the thick/left point; another description notes mid-tide to avoid the shallowest rocks.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Reported as an exposed point break.
- Wind Effect
- Best with offshore north/north-northwest or offshore-leaning conditions; wind can blow the point out quickly with typical afternoon north-west winds.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds big winter swells (reported up to 6 ft+ / double overhead behavior) but becomes very dangerous due to rocks and can close out.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Wave quality is reported as excellent/good.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Powerful winter waves on a steep, rocky point are described as very powerful/heavy.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — One provider highlights hollow winter behavior; another describes fast peeling.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast, peeling sections are emphasized.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Rides up to around 100 meters are referenced; longer rides can occur on a good day.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100 m
- Ride Length Details
- One description states rides can reach up to 150 meters on a good day with multiple sections; another gives a typical ~100m ride.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Deadman Beach (Old Malibu) in the full forecast view.
Deadman Beach (Old Malibu) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–9 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- SSW203°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 249 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.1 m11s period
- Temperature
- 14–26 °C
Over the next 7 days, Deadman Beach (Old Malibu) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.7–1.1 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
- localism
- submerged rocks
- shallow reef
- strong rip currents (especially on larger swells)
- kelp beds
- slippery stones during entry/exit
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported for the spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Rescue availability reported as no.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services can be reached via 911; nearest major medical facilities are Los Robles Regional Medical Center and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center.
- Localism / Vibe
- Heavy — Heavily local with sensitive, tightly guarded access to the point.
Rules of the spot
Experience-only spot due to heavy rocks and localism; strict surf etiquette expected.
- Localism is heavy; paddling out without paying your dues can lead to conflict.
- Rocks make entry and exit especially difficult.
- Wait for a mid-tide to avoid the shallowest rocks.
- Be careful during entry and exit as the rocks are very slippery.
- Respect the local crew who have surfed here for decades.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Old Malibu
- Nearest Town
- Malibu
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking along Pacific Coast Highway; larger parking lot available at nearby County Line Beach.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping is available nearby at Leo Carrillo State Park.
- Food & Drink
- Food is referenced near the County Line area.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is referenced as available via nearby options in Malibu or Ventura.
- Gear Storage
- Generally not available at the beach.
- Gear Repair
- Specialized repair services are referenced in larger hubs of Oxnard or Santa Monica.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A scenic park featuring sea caves, tide pools, and iconic coastal rock formations.
An educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.
Extensive network of trails for hiking and mountain biking with panoramic ocean views.
A historic seafood shack and biker destination referenced as a well-known nearby stop.
Features five miles of ocean shoreline with sandy beaches and rocky bluffs for exploring.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Deadman Beach (Old Malibu)?
The best overall months at Deadman Beach (Old Malibu) are January.
Which wind directions work at Deadman Beach (Old Malibu)?
Deadman Beach (Old Malibu) works with NE, E, NNE winds.
What skill level is Deadman Beach (Old Malibu) suitable for?
Deadman Beach (Old Malibu) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.