Costa Rica Surf Report for March 16, 2000

Brought to you each Thursday evening by local surf businesses throughout Costa Rica. See http://www.crsurf.com/links.html for pics., forecast links, and tide charts.

FEATURES
National Stats:
Tides
Swell Direction
Area Reports:
Wave Heights & Conditions
Forecasts & Best Spot
Upcoming Events / Contests

SPONSORS by Area

1) Surfpati at Vista Villas / R.A. surf shop Tamarindo (506-653-0114) in Tamarindo - surfpati@racsa.co.cr

2) Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0458) in Playa Grande - nela@cool.co.cr

Steve at Tropicos Latino (640-0062) in Playa Santa Teresa
troplat@sol.racsa.co.cr

Kristian up in the North Nicoya Peninsula
surf_witch@hotmail.com

Martine at Hotel Café de Paris (682-0087) in Nosara
cafepari@sol.racsa.co.cr

Chuck at Chosita del Surf (643-3328) in Jaco
chucks@sol.racsa.co.cr

3) Tommy at Fuego del Sol Hotel (in Playa Hermosa)

Todd at Alacran Surf Tours in Manuel Antonio (777-1721)
alacran@sol.racsa.co.cr

David at Escuela D’Amore (777-1143) in Manuel Antonio – damore@sol.racsa.co.cr

4) Vida Verde Land Management & Sales (787-0116) in Dominical
vidaverde@sol.racsa.co.cr

Paco at Hotel Rio Lindo (787-0078) in Dominical
hotelriolindo@sol.racsa.co.cr

Mel Baker at A.T.E.C. (750-0191) in Puerto Viejo - atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr

Cabinas Casa Verde (750-0015 fax 750-0047) in Puerto Viejo
http://www.greencoast.com/casaverd.htm or atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr


TIDES (for Puntarenas) – Mareas
** New Moon - March 4th, Full Moon - March 19th **

High tide (Friday) – Marea alta (viernes)
12:40 a.m. @ 8 ft. – 244 cm.

Low tide – Marea baja
6:18 a.m. @ .7 ft. – 21 cm.

SWELL DIRECTION -- DIRECIÓN DEL SWELL

Pacific – The present SW is dropping, and there is not much behind it until the 25th-26th, next weekend. First you will see growing surf from the SSW and then the NW swell pushes in close period sets. This will be BIG - at least double overhead at Dom., Hermosa, Negra, Nosara, Grande - luckily, the tides are not severe enough for there to be major flooding. **Local knowledge - the formula for the best surf is 3-5 days after the new and full moon **

Caribbean – This side still has not dropped below waist to chest. Expect a larger push from the east by next Wednesday. Use the website to see the daily weather conditions in Limon.

AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

(1) From Patti at Best Western Vista Villas in Tamarindo -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Swell size slowing dropping with a SW pulse bringing in
3'-5' surf over the weekend.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
Great weather, lite offshores and SW 3'- 5'. Chance of a slight pull from the west by Sunday.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Pick up a fun board or a long board and try the right at T Bay rivermouth. Playa Negra, holding up at shoulder high plus over the weekend.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
St. Pati's Day Party with the Leatherbacks, this Friday at Best Western - Tamarindo Vista Villas....Watch for the newest Surfin Corner with Surfpati, coming soon in the Tico Times.....

(2) From Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: We have straight in swell running well overhead with some great waves and a lot of close outs and funky sections. It's been running for about a week now and is not showing signs of letting up. The wind has been off shore all day most days and in the morning for the rest. All the sand bars and Tamarindo Estero have had their moments and occassional epic conditions at different tides and swell shifts.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): If the swell holds we'll be looking at Tamarindo in the morning and Playa Grande in the afternoon if the wind stays off shore.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: Morning surf in Tamarindo and afternoon at Playa Grande at Chicken Head Rock and in front of the hotel in the afternoon.

JACO & HERMOSA

(3) From Tommy at Hotel Fuego del Sol in Hermosa - It's going off at Esterillos today. Low tide was Roca Loca again.
More Pictures at: www.fuegodelsol.com/page3.html

QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO

see National Report above

DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC

(4)From Sean at Montanas de Vida Verde in Dominical:

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Swell going out but still 6-8ft. faces. clean in the morning

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
about the same expected, nice weather

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Playa dominical is the one for now., unless you know

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
The church in dominical is having a gathering on the 17-19th of march on the soccer field in Dominical, games, food, music, and fun

Also- Gino and jen will be wed at the beach of roca verde on Friday March 17th..Congrats!!!

CARRIBEAN
See National Report above