The Rock · Costa Azul
San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico · Reef break
Local time — · Sunrise 06:29 · Sunset 17:38
Reading the ocean.
SWELLRADAR is requesting a verified marine run for The Rock · Costa Azul.
Spot intelligence.
This is The Rock at Costa Azul, between Zippers and Old Man's, not another namesake break. Its small takeoff beside the rock and uneven reef require confident positioning. The nearby beginner lessons at Old Man's do not make this reef a first-lesson recommendation.
Profile source · Surfline · The Rock surf guideProfile sources & limits
Reviewed 19 Oct 2026 · not observation-validated
Published sources reviewed by SWELLRADAR, not validation against measured breaking waves. Swell-from and wind-from axes are independent qualitative ranking inputs, not surveyed shoreline bearings. The inherited generic 0.6–3.0 m offshore-model height bands are unchanged: they are not measured local surf limits, safe learner ranges or wave-face conversions. Existing pins remain approximate; requested marine points are not takeoffs. Nearby breaks can share an offshore model cell without sharing local conditions. Tide preferences establish neither safe reef clearance nor safe entry. Assess the actual section, currents and personal ability from shore. Surfline establishes S/SW swell and W/NW wind; SSW and WNW are coarse references within those sectors, not surveyed optima. Mid/high tide receives only a soft relative preference. Fuller water is not proof that boulders are covered or that the takeoff is safe. Los Cabos Guide supports the separate intermediate section, not a blanket all-condition ability certification.
- Surfline · The Rock surf guide
Costa Azul right reef, S/SW swell, independent W/NW wind, mid/high preference, compact takeoff and exposed-rock hazards
- Los Cabos Guide · Costa Azul Beach
Separate Zippers, The Rock and Old Man's sections; intermediate The Rock is not the learner/longboard setting at Acapulquito
Source-informed axes
Swell axis SSW · 203°
Offshore wind from WNW · Intermediate profile
Wave
Right-hand reef with uneven sections
Rock reef with large exposed boulders
Swell window
S–SW · SSW ranking reference
0.6–3.0 m offshore ranking band
Clean wind
W–NW · WNW ranking reference
Applied to wind scoring
Tide window
Mid to high · qualitative preference
Qualitative timing guidance
Field guide
Read the break.
Character · setup · local read
Field guide
Read the break.
Character
01The Rock · Costa Azul is defined by right-hand reef with uneven sections over rock reef with large exposed boulders. The shape can change with swell angle, period and the active section, so the live score should always be paired with a visual check from shore.
Best setup
02S–SW · SSW ranking reference swell, w–nw · wnw ranking reference and mid to high · qualitative preference form the profile baseline. SWELLRADAR retains 0.6–3.0 m as an offshore-model ranking band, not a measured local surf limit or a breaking-wave prediction.
Lineup read
03Choose a peak that matches your experience and reassess it as tide and crowd change. Pay particular attention to shallow exposed rocks, small crowded takeoff zone, uneven reef sections. Local signs and advice always take priority.
Know before you paddle
Live conditions and local advice always override this profile.
Optional community layerRecent surfer reportsVoluntary and potentially incomplete. Not used for the forecast or Surf Score.
The break
Reef break
Intermediate. Works best with S–SW · SSW ranking reference swell.
Timing
W–NW · WNW ranking reference
Mid to high · qualitative preference. Re-check local observations and the lineup before you paddle out.
Data note
Model data unavailable
SWELLRADAR withholds numerical conditions, scores and surf windows until a quality-checked marine forecast is available.