Overview
Isla Vista gathers several breaks along one stretch of coast. East of Devereux Point, mushy reef waves break about a quarter-mile from shore, while beachbreak runs down toward Campus Point. The waves peel over boulders and sand and come as both lefts and rights.
When It Works
The swell window runs from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW), and the spot comes alive best on a west (W) swell. It is usable from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. The main reef and beachbreak want a big west swell paired with low tides, or a solid windswell, to really fire. Pescaderos, at the end of Pescadero Street, is a fun, peaky beachbreak that prefers a lower tide. Depressions, on the backside of Campus Point below the small valley in the bluff, is a more average beachbreak that comes together on medium tide with smaller, peaky windswell.
Wind and Tide
Look for a northeast (NE) offshore wind to clean things up. The breaks favor low tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
The lineup fills in when UCSB is in session, so expect the crowd to pick up with the school calendar.
Access
Park for free along Del Playa Drive, which puts you within reach of all the spots, and there is a surf shop nearby.
