Wave height descriptions

[sand dollar]

Hi - newbie question, sorry if it's been covered, I couldn't find it on the forum.

I have heard the heights of waves mentioned as overhead etc.

What are common wave heights and their descriptions/names, and how do you tell how big a wave is when you are in the water?

I was in surf that seemed about 4ft from top to bottom, would that be the measurement to quote or is it measured relative to something else?

Thanks!

[drowningbitbybit]

Yup, unless you're measuring Hawaiian scale (which is from the back of the wave, and lets not get into that) you're measuring the face of the wave...

[drowningbitbybit]

Or...

ankle (1ft)
knee (2ft)
waist (2-3ft)
chest (3-4ft)
shoulder (4-5ft)
head (6ft)
overhead (6ft+)
double-overhead (silly)

Its subjective though, and one persons 4ft is another persons headhigh.

[Old Guys Rule]

Nice Job on the explenation. As was said it is a bit subjective and tends to be a bit like a fish story. With some people you learn to cut the size down by a foot or two from what they say. Especially with most surf reports.

[alimac2411]

Nice Job on the explenation. As was said it is a bit subjective and tends to be a bit like a fish story. With some people you learn to cut the size down by a foot or two from what they say. Especially with most surf reports.

Ha ha, reminds me of one of my mates. If there's 1 surf that i don't go with him, he comes back telling me that it was the best surf of the year and i should have been there etc...i don't listen to him anymore, but funnily enough i had my best surf of the year so far at the end of august & he wasn't there.
I seen some unbelievable monsters at a spot up here the other day, about triple overhead, which i class as 18 foot, i just stayed at the beach & watched the good surfers though, nowhere near that level yet although it was a beautiful reef break producing a similar wave every time, roll on these days, hopefully by the end of winter or by next summer for me!

[essex sucks]

if its dec u add about 12 ft

[sand dollar]

OK, I see - ankle high is the height it would come to if you were Jesus and walking on the water!

thanks

[Johnny B]

Good answer DBBB, I've always been a bit iffy with that too. Oh, and good question. You hear so many people exaggerating don't ya?

[drowningbitbybit]

Good answer DBBB

I admit that my good answer, or at least the pictures, were blatantly stolen from the BBC's surf wales site

But I did make their pictures into one big picture, does that count?

[Sillysausage]

Good answer DBBB

I admit that my good answer, or at least the pictures, were blatantly stolen from the BBC's surf wales site

But I did make their pictures into one big picture, does that count?

I know you thief!

[Dec]

Let's just confuse everyone with my god ol' measurements.

1ft - Waist high
2-3ft - Shoulder to head
4-5ft - Overhead
6ft - Well overhead
8ft - Double overhead
10ft+ - Break out the helmets, tow vests, ski's, and balls of steel

[RJD]

Let's just confuse everyone with my god ol' measurements.

1ft - Waist high

Are you a midget or a booger?

[Real Pol]

Ha ha, reminds me of one of my mates. If there's 1 surf that i don't go with him, he comes back telling me that it was the best surf of the year and i should have been there etc...

I think we share a friend!