CR Surf Report for 3-18-07

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 9, Issue 375
March 18th, 2007

TOP NEWS

Coalición Costarricense por las Ballenas - AYUDA A LAS BALLENAS, VISITA ESTE LINK Y LLENA CON TUS DATOS PERSONALES.. Costaricans for the Whales - Help the Whales by visiting this link and signing the petition.

Doctors, Lawyers, Weekend Warriors contest in Boca Barranca - July 21st and 22nd. Check out Worldwide Adventures for the details.

Contact info@... to get your trip package reservations. Family Surf Lessons can be custom built for your experience and budget.

NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - **Watch for extreme tides this week!** Surf chest high for Monday, a foot bigger at south facing beachbreaks. Tuesday morning it stays small, except up by Grande and north where it picks up to overhead. By the end of the day, most beaches are breaking head high to overhead. By Wednesday morning, a few 2 foot+ overhead sets appear each hour, but the low tide makes them closeout. When the tide fills, you'll see waves maxing out mid-afternoon. Lots of set waves Thursday when the size drops a foot, but gets more consistent. Friday it falls down to head high to overhead, lots of waves to catch, but no mo mackers. The weekend stays head high with overhead sets. No major swell until a week from Friday.

Caribbean - No change in size from today's waist high surf with a rare chest high set for Monday. By sunset a few more chest high sets appear and on Tuesday the surf is consistent chest to head. Wednesday a solid East wind swell pushes in overhead surf, sticking around Thursday and Friday morning. Then it fades fast, disappearing down to chest high by sunset. More chest high surf for next weekend.

To do your own forecast - use our links at http://www.crsurf.com/surflink.html

TIDES for 3/18/07 (add ~50 min. each day)

Low Tide - (-.21) feet at 7:59 a.m.
High Tide - 9.25 feet at 2:18 p.m.

New Moon - 3/18

** Surf Reporters **
Diana at PuraMar Surf School (653-1355) in Tamarindo - puramartamarindo@...
Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0423) in Playa Grande - surfegg@...
Chosita del Surf (643-1308, fax 643-3328) in Jaco - chucks@...
Rancho Coral (778-8648) in Esterillos - wearesurfing@...
Hotel Totem in Playa Cocles (750-0758) - totem368@...
Witchs Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo - stephenmonticone@...
John Lyman Photography in Playa Negra - lymanphoto@...
Samara Surf School (656-0055) in Samara - jesse@...
Land Assurance (787-0291) in Dominical - info@...
Coconut Harrys (682-0574) in Nosara - coconutharrys@...

** Sponsors **
CR Surfing Guide (619-520-3545) - gustavo@...
Villas Rio Mar (787-0052 fax 787-0054) in Playa Dominical - info@...
Tico Travel - Surf Trips (1-800-493-8426) - info@...
Costa Paraiso Lodge (787-0025) in Dominicalito - info@...
Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica www.surfingtravel.com
Pablos Picasso Hotel and Restaurant (658-8158) in Playa Negra -pablospicassohotel@...
Hotel Poseidon (Toll free:888-643-1242 or 643-1642) reservations@...
Hotel Cafe de Paris (682-0087, fax 682-0089) in Nosara - info@...
Cashew Hill Jungle Lodge (750-0256) in Puerto Viejo - reservations@...
Cabinas Las Olas (658-8315 Fax: 222-8685) in Playa Avellanas - olassa@...
Teen Spanish and Surf Camps (1-800-765-0025) - info@...
Cafe Playa Negra (658-8351) - cafeplayanegra@...
School of the World (643-2462) in Jaco - info@...
Roca Bruja Surf Tours (670-1020) in Playa del Coco - rocasurf@...
Hotel La Dolce Vita (778-7015 ) in Esterillos - info@...
La Sirena Hotel (1-800-493-8426) in Quepos - info@...
Third World Surf (643-1497) in Jaco - thirdworldproductionscr@...
Ranchos Ituana (640-0095) in Mal Pais - peter@...
Nature Cabina for rent near Dominical Beaches - qpb@...
Kevin's Transfers (643-2604 / cell:(712) 361-9218) in Jaco - comeeds@...
A Surfer's Dream House in Playa Negra - info@...
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AREA REPORTS (sent in on 3/17 or posted)

** From Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: The surf has been too big, and too straight, for our end of the bay this week. On top of that, the wind has been coming on shore by mid day just as the swell has started to relax. The surfer recue biz has been brisk all week without losing anyone. I got to witness one and was duely impressed. A good practice in big shore break, especially if there are several surfer rescuers, is to put a leach on the bather so you can find them if you get caught in a rogue set. I heard there was a drowning in front of "Palm Beach" near Tamarindo on Thurs. but don't have any details. The Las Tortugas Hotel brochure recommends not swimming in the ocean on our end of the bay due to the dangerous surf conditions, but unlike a lot of us surfers, the bathers are fearless.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): The high tides are moving into the afternoon, and the wind probably won't hold for the weekend days.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: We've been going down the beach to the Tamarindo Estuary for incoming tides and off shores in the morning.

** From Diana at Pura Mar Surf Shop in Tamarindo -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: In the last few days as the swell has passed, waves have gone from head high to chest high. The wind is staying off shore until mid moring only. That's unusual for March, but the water is getting warmer again. En estos dias con el swell que pasaba, las olas fueron de a la cabeza de al pecho. El viento esta off-shore en las mananas solamente. Esto es inususal para marzo, pero el agua esta mas caliente.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): Wave size may drop off a bit and we'll see what the wind does. El tamano de las olas puede desminuir un poco y vamos a ver que hace el viento.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Mornings at Langosta while the tide is still low should be good. If the size holds and the wind goes on shore, check out Capitan Suizo. Las mananas en Langosta mientras la marea esta baja debe ser buenas. Si el tamano sigue asi y el viento sopla on shore, puede ser bueno al Capitan Suizo.

** From Keith at Witchs Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo (sent on 3/16)-

Sorry for the delay in the report. I took a camping trip to witch's rock for a while and did not have access to the internet. I did take my camera however, and these are a few of the photos from the trip. (See photos)

The waves were very good. the smallest sets were about chest high, with average sets being a couple feet overhead, and the biggest sets (especially tuesday morning), being double overhead or so, and very hollow and powerful. the wind was offshore and the conditions were clean.

** From photographer John Lyman, Lyman Photos in Playa Negra -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: After a week of large surf, we have smaller fun size waves for the masses. And it seems the masses are here. That's because the weather is perfect with light offshores under warm sunny skies.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): The surf will stay on the small side until mid week. More perfect weather for the entire upcoming week.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Low tide is running through the mornings this week so hit those low tide spots like Langosta. As the swell picks up mid week, check out Little Hawaii and Playa Negra.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales: See what the surf looked like today at Playa Negra. www.lymanphotos.sbpix.com

** From Harry at Coconut Harrys Surf Shop in Playa Guiones -

Chest high surf here - pretty fun. -- "Work Less - Surf More" www.coconutharrys.com

** From Chuck at Walking on Water Surf Shop in Jaco -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: Boy oh Boy ¡ Surfs up for sure , havent had a small day in days, a bit straight on but waves all over the place ¡ High tide coming up in the afternoon this week and clouds and rain , yes rain so it could make for some clasic afternoon session here this week . Tourism is on fire here with lots of families wandering around so help em have fun and avoid difficulties if you can ! Fresh boards being delivered next week so if you need a new stick we have some great selection right now and if you are a shop owner you should call us or come see us for our wholesale prices are unbeatable for quality boards.NSP full range available and school pricing is quite nice as well . Thanks Chuck and the CREW at W.O.W. SURF !

** From Andrea at Waves CR Surf Camp in Playa Hermosa -

A little up date on the environmental attrocity "the Diamond beach towers" M.A.G. (ministerio de Agriculturia y Ganaderia) was here on Thursaday and they made soil samples and Determined as a fact that the land where they want to be is an HUMEDAL .......!!!!! Also the Alcalde from Jaco is really interesred in protecting this area along with the Refugio de vida Silvestre.!!!!!! Thumbs up! Pura Vida, smile and enjoy life! Waves Costa Rica Surf Adventures/Roxy Costa Rica Surf Camps - Making WAVES since 2004.

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: BIG ....Hermosa´s board-breaking conditions are back!!!! Big & powerfull

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): Head out to the point breaks...

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Esterillos Oeste and the point breaks. Barranca?!?!?!