Dolose Point
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Empty
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Dolose Point is a left-hand point break at the harbor edge, known for hollow, fun waves and generally good wave quality when the swell and wind align. It breaks over sandy areas with rock and reef sections (including near the concrete dolosse), which can create fast, punchy wave faces suited to riders who can manage hazards close to the break. The spot works on all tides and is commonly described as starting at less than 1 m of swell, holding up to around 2 m+ in stronger conditions. Typical ride lengths are reported as 50 to 150 m, with longer rides (up to roughly 150–300 m) possible on better days. Larger swell can stay in the pocket for longer before closing out or turning messy, so conditions matter. Wind-wise, the most favorable directions are South-West, South, and South-East. Summer is associated with stronger south-easterly winds, and afternoon peaks are cited for a sea-breeze/thermal pattern; wind can be highly supportive for groomed surf, but offshore/cross-offshore alignment is needed to keep wave quality clean. Wind turbulence near harbor structures and industrial buildings is a noted consideration. Safety is a central factor at Dolose Point: sources consistently list rocks, reef, pollution, and harbor/industrial debris as hazards. The spot is often empty, so pairing up is recommended, and entering should be preceded by checking current water quality information due to the nearby Salt River mouth influence.
- Left-hand point break with hollow sections
- Works on all tides
- Good wave quality when conditions line up
- Typically empty/low crowd
- Left-hand point break with hollow, fun wave sections
- Works on all tides
- Typically empty/low-crowd conditions
- Water can be impacted by pollution, especially near the Salt River mouth
- Rocks/reef and harbor-side infrastructure increase hazard risk
- Industrial shoreline may create restricted access areas
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSE, SW
- Offshore directions
- SW, S, SSE
- Wind Range
- 15–30 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Providers describe a mix of prevailing winds and thermal reinforcement; summer is dominated by strong south-easterly winds.
- Reliability
- High during summer for wind-based sports, but requires specific directions for clean surf.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- Potential turbulence near harbor structures and large industrial buildings.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Mixed — Sandy with rock; also described as mixed.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small to medium swell described (sources range from under 1 m to around 2 m+ holding).
- Launch
- Medium — Rocky shoreline with concrete dolosse blocks described as the effective launch/entry area.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate launch difficulty reported due to rocky entry and harbor-side infrastructure.
Through the year
Generally empty or very low crowds year-round.
Winter (June to August) is the main rainy season; pollution levels can increase significantly.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Left-hand point break breaking off the concrete dolosse near the harbor, known for hollow sections and fun rides on the right swell and wind window.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Works on all tides.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Break is off the harbor-side concrete dolosse; described as semi-sheltered overall.
- Wind Effect
- South and South-East winds provide offshore or cross-offshore conditions that groom the wave; best winds are South-West, South, and South-East.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold swell up to about 2 meters or slightly more; may close out or become messy on larger/rougher conditions.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality reported.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power reported.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Mixed to hollow sections reported depending on conditions.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Described as hollow with a medium peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Normal rides are typically 50 to 150 m; can extend longer on good days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal rides range between 50 and 150 meters, extending up to 300 meters on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Dolose Point in the full forecast view.
Dolose Point wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–15 ktsGusts 31 kts
- Direction
- S173°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2515 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.9 m9s period
- Temperature
- 15–29 °C
Over the next 7 days, Dolose Point is forecast for daytime winds of 2–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 31 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 0.6–1.9 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- Pollution
- Rocks
- Reef
- Industrial debris
- Harbor traffic
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported at the spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No rescue availability reported at the spot. (Regional context notes likely limited rescue services along the coast.)
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospitals are located in Cape Town City Centre; emergency number cited for the wider area includes 112 (and 10177 from mobile).
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Sources characterize localism as none; it is described as low-profile and rarely crowded.
Rules of the spot
Check water quality reports before entering; the spot is near the Salt River mouth and conditions can be impacted by pollution.
- Proximity to the industrial harbor zone may create restricted access areas.
- Limited parking in industrial areas or roadside near the shoreline.
- The spot is often empty; surf with a partner for safety.
- Check water quality reports before entering.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Cape Town
- Nearest Town
- Paarden Eiland
- Parking
- Limited parking in industrial areas or roadside near the shoreline
- Public Transport
- Bus and train services available from Cape Town to Milnerton; also well-served by the MyCiTi rapid transit bus system (Routes 101 and 102).
- Access
- Access is generally via industrial roads in the Paarden Eiland or harbor area
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Wide range of hotels and guesthouses in Cape Town city centre and Milnerton.
- Food & Drink
- Various industrial cafes nearby; full restaurants available in the nearby city centre.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available at the spot; shops available in Milnerton or Cape Town.
- Gear Storage
- None.
- Gear Repair
- None at the spot; multiple shops in the greater Cape Town area.
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 Dolose Point?
The best overall months at Dolose Point are January, February, March, November, December. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Dolose Point?
Dolose Point works with S, SSE, SW winds. Offshore directions are SW, S, SSE.
What skill level is Dolose Point suitable for?
Dolose Point suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.