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Help & Documentation

Learn how to use WhenSwell to discover and track your favorite surf spots.

Filtering Surf Locations

WhenSwell provides powerful filtering options to help you find the perfect surf spot based on your preferences.

Filter controls showing search box and filter dropdowns

Screenshot showing the search box and filter dropdowns (Skill Level, Wave Direction, Swell Direction, Region, and Favourites button)

Search by Name or Description

Use the search box at the top of the locations list to find spots by name or description. The search is case-insensitive and matches partial words.

Filter by Skill Level

Filter locations by skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Expert. Select "All" to see spots of all skill levels.

Filter by Wave Direction

Find spots that break Left, Right, or Both directions. This helps you find waves that match your stance preference.

Filter by Swell Direction

Filter by the direction from which swells approach: N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SW, or SE.

Filter by Region

Narrow down locations by geographic region: North America, Central America & Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, or Oceania & Pacific.

Show Favourites Only

Click the "Favourites" button to show only locations you've marked as favorites. Toggle it off to see all locations again.

Tip: Your filter preferences are automatically saved and will be restored when you return to the app.

Adding Custom Locations

Add your own surf spots that aren't in the default list. Custom locations appear alongside the main locations and include full forecast support.

How to Add a Custom Spot

  1. Click the "Add Custom Spot" button in the sidebar or on the main page
  2. Enter a name for your spot (e.g., "My Local Break")
  3. Click on the map to set the location coordinates, or manually enter latitude and longitude
  4. Click "Save" to add the spot
Add custom spot modal

Screenshot of the custom spot modal showing the name input field and map for selecting coordinates

Managing Custom Spots

View all your custom spots on the My Custom Spots page. From there you can:

  • Edit spot names and locations
  • Delete spots you no longer need
  • Import and export your custom spots as JSON files
  • View forecasts for each custom spot

Note: Custom spots are stored locally in your browser. To back them up or transfer them to another device, use the export feature on the My Custom Spots page.

Preferred Settings for Locations

Set your ideal conditions for each surf spot. WhenSwell will highlight forecast hours that match your preferences, making it easier to spot the best times to surf.

How to Set Favourite Conditions

  1. Navigate to any surf location (custom or default)
  2. Scroll down to the forecast section
  3. Click the "Set Favourite Conditions" button
  4. Configure your preferences:
    • Swell Height Range: Minimum and maximum swell height in meters
    • Preferred Swell Direction: The direction from which swells should approach
    • Minimum Swell Period: The minimum period (4-20 seconds) - longer periods mean more powerful waves
    • Preferred Wind Directions: Select one or more wind directions (offshore winds create cleaner waves)
    • Preferred Tide: High, Low, Incoming Mid, or Outgoing Mid
  5. Click "Save" to apply your preferences
Favourite Conditions modal

Screenshot of the Favourite Conditions modal showing all the preference options (swell height range, swell direction, period, wind directions, and tide preferences)

How Matching Works

Once you've set favourite conditions, forecast hours that match your preferences will be highlighted in the forecast display. This makes it easy to quickly identify the best times to surf at each spot.

Forecast display with matching hours

Screenshot showing a forecast display with matching hours highlighted (likely in yellow/gold) based on favourite conditions

Clearing Preferences

You can clear your favourite conditions for a spot at any time by clicking "Clear Preferences" in the Favourite Conditions modal. This removes the highlighting but doesn't affect the forecast display.

Tip: Favourite conditions are saved per location, so you can have different preferences for each spot. This is especially useful if you surf different types of breaks that require different conditions.

Adding Custom Boards

Keep track of your surfboard collection and match boards to your favorite spots.

How to Add a Board

  1. Click the "Add Board" button in the sidebar or on the main page
  2. Fill in the board details:
    • Nickname: A friendly name (e.g., "My Daily Driver")
    • Manufacturer: The board brand (e.g., "Channel Islands")
    • Model: The board model (e.g., "Rocket 9")
    • Size: Board dimensions (e.g., "6'2 x 19 1/4 x 2 1/2")
  3. Click "Add Board" to save
Add board form

Screenshot showing the board form with fields for Nickname, Manufacturer, Model, and Size

Matching Boards to Spots

Once you've added boards, you can assign a "Best Board" to each surf location. This helps you remember which board works best at each spot. Look for the "Best Board" dropdown on each location card.

Best board dropdown selector

Screenshot showing a location card with the 'Best Board' dropdown selector visible

Managing Your Boards

View and manage all your boards on the My Boards page. You can edit or delete boards at any time.

Additional Tips

• Favourites: Click the star icon (☆) on any location to mark it as a favorite. Click again to remove it.

• World Map: Scroll down to see all locations plotted on an interactive world map.

• Forecasts: Each location includes a detailed forecast showing swell height, period, wind conditions, and more for the next few days.

• Mobile Friendly: WhenSwell works great on mobile devices. Use the hamburger menu to access navigation on smaller screens.