SurfCheck / Guides
Surf Guides
Plain explanations of the things a forecast cannot tell you: what the numbers mean, how to stay safe in the water, how to look after your kit, and how to behave in a line-up. Free, no login.
Understand the forecast3 guides
What the numbers on a spot page actually mean, and how to read them before you drive anywhere.
How to Read a Surf ForecastWhy swell period matters more than wave height, and how wind and tide decide the window.Surf Forecast GlossaryEvery term on a SurfCheck page, explained plainly.What Drives European Swell SeasonsThe North Atlantic Oscillation, the jet stream, and where El Niño does and does not fit.
Stay safe4 guides
The water does not care how well you read a forecast. These are the pages worth knowing before you need them.
Rip CurrentsHow to spot one before you get in, and exactly what to do if you are caught.Sea Swimming in IrelandHow to start, and how to stay safe — cold water shock, tides, water quality and kit.Sheltered Sea Swimming Spots in IrelandCounty by county — including which ones only work at low or high tide.Surf SafetyThe five things that actually go wrong in the water, and how to manage each.
Look after your gear4 guides
Boards, wetsuits and the business of getting both to the coast in one piece.
Cold-Water SurfingWhy people choose the harder option — and the kit that decides whether you enjoy it.Surfboard Ding RepairHow to fix a ding without ruining the board — and when to take it to a shaper.Travelling With SurfboardsAirline rules, packing a board bag properly, and what to do if it arrives damaged.Wetsuit Care and RepairMake yours last — rinsing, drying, unsticking the zip, fixing tears, and where to get it repaired.
Surf better1 guide
Line-up manners and the habits that make the difference once you can already catch waves.