Point Loma surf spots are the best-kept secrets in San Diego’s surfing landscape. While thousands of surfers crowd Pacific Beach, Cardiff, and OB Pier on any given swell day, Point Loma’s Sunset Cliffs reef breaks deliver quality waves to a fraction of the crowd — simply because accessing them requires more than just driving to the beach and walking down a ramp. Here’s a guide to the breaks worth the extra effort.
Understanding Point Loma’s Surf Geography
Point Loma is the elevated peninsula that forms San Diego Bay’s western boundary. Its western and southwestern face is a dramatic clifftop coastline — Sunset Cliffs Natural Park — where the Pacific Ocean meets ancient sandstone bluffs. Below the clifftops, a series of reef breaks stretches for roughly 2 miles, each with its own character, optimal conditions, and access challenge.
The entire Sunset Cliffs coastline faces generally southwest to west, making it ideal for NW and W swells and partially sheltered from direct S swells. Most spots require the surfer to scramble down cliff faces, navigate surge channels, or lower boards by leash before jumping in. This natural barrier keeps crowds manageable and rewards surfers who do their homework.
The Main Sunset Cliffs Surf Spots
Abs (Absolute) — The Flagship Break
Abs is the most well-known Sunset Cliffs surf spot, located roughly at the section of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard near Bermuda Avenue. It’s named for the workout you get trying to stay on the steep reef break.
The wave: A hollow, powerful left that runs along a shallow reef section. On a solid NW or SW swell at 4–7 feet, Abs produces genuine barrel opportunities. The face is steep and the section throws — this is not a beginner break.
Access: Stairs and ladders cut into the cliff face. Check the tide before you go — entry and exit become very hazardous at very low or very high tide due to surge.
Best conditions: NW or W swell 4–7 ft, NE offshore wind, 1.5–3 ft tide, 12+ second period.
Newbreak — Power Reef
Newbreak is south of Abs and produces an even more powerful, more critical wave on solid NW swells. It’s called Newbreak because it was “discovered” (by the modern San Diego surf community) more recently than the other Sunset Cliffs spots.
The wave: Fast, heavy left that breaks over a particularly shallow section of reef. Barrel sections are common. Wipeouts can be punishing. This is strictly experienced surfers only.
Access: More challenging than Abs — a longer scramble and a surge channel entry that requires timing. Scout thoroughly before committing.
Best conditions: NW swell 5–8 ft, strong offshore wind, mid-tide 2–4 ft.
No Surf — The Ironic Name
No Surf is a small, tucked-away reef section between Abs and Newbreak that doesn’t actually lack surf — it’s named with the classic San Diego surf community irony applied to spots locals want to keep quiet.
It’s a more sheltered section that can produce quality waves on moderate swells (3–5 ft) when Abs and Newbreak are too heavy. Better for surfers who are experienced at reef breaks but not necessarily big-wave riders.
Little Point — South-Facing Gem
Little Point at the far south end of Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, near Ladera Street, faces more directly south than the northern sections. This makes it one of the few Point Loma surf spots that picks up south and southwest swells effectively.
On a solid SW or Southern Hemi swell, Little Point produces a right-hand point break of sorts — a rarity in the area. It’s sheltered from direct NW swell but fires on SW and S events when the northern Sunset Cliffs sections are blocked.
Garbage Beach — The Name Says It All (But It’s Worth It)
Garbage Beach is a rocky cove at the extreme south end of the Sunset Cliffs area, accessible via a steep scramble down the cliffside near Hill Street. The name was applied by locals, but the waves are anything but garbage on the right conditions.
It’s a pocket beach with a reef that catches south and southwest swells before they wrap further north. A solid SW swell at 5–7 feet produces hollow, powerful waves here with almost no crowd — the access keeps all but the committed away.
Conditions and Safety for Point Loma Surf
All Point Loma surf spots share common safety requirements:
- Scout from the clifftop first — Walk the clifftop above your chosen entry point and watch for at least 10 minutes. Identify the surge pattern, the safest entry channel, and the exit strategy.
- Tide is critical — Too low means exposed reef on entry and wipeout. Too high means surge against the cliffs making exit dangerous. 1.5–3.5 ft is generally the safe window.
- Don’t go alone — Sunset Cliffs has limited emergency vehicle access. A surfing partner is essential.
- Know the swell size limit — Above 8 feet at the buoy, most Sunset Cliffs spots become extremely dangerous. The conditions score in the Element app will be very high — but high score doesn’t mean safe for everyone.
Using the Element App at Point Loma
The conditions score in the Element app for Sunset Cliffs and Point Loma spots weights offshore wind heavily — and for good reason. These reef breaks depend on offshore conditions to produce their best shape. When the Element app shows a rising conditions score with NE wind and a NW swell building, it’s time to scout Abs and Newbreak from the clifftop.
Point Loma is San Diego surfing at its most dramatic and most rewarding. Do the preparation, respect the access challenges, and you’ll understand why locals have been quietly scoring these breaks for generations.