Surf: At the north end of Mona Vale beach is The Basin, a deeper, rocky bay that is usually flat until a solid SE-S swell breaks outside, then reforms and wraps round the shelf the pool sits on, throwing up some pretty sick righthanders. Needs SW quadrant winds and it will be zooed when on. When the swell swings NE-E, lefts will start running down the other side and a bunch of decent peaks will hit the banks stretching down to the half headland where Warriewood begins. Doesn't mind the summer NE'ers too much and is less crowded than most adjacent beaches. Environment: If you are unlucky enough to hit the rocks around the pool, Mona Vale Hospital is above the break.