Surf: General: Surfing is pretty much an alien enterprise on Saint Catherines Island. The Georgia coast is tucked so far back behind the Carolinas and Florida, and positioned so far west of the widened continental shelf (over 60 miles at some spots) that it takes something significant like a hurricane or a nor'easter to produce decent surf. In fact, Georgia is often more dependable when it’s onshore, and only on an incoming tide. Tides: Only works on incoming to dead high tide. With a six to ten-foot tidal difference, the Atlantic waters push into the Georgia Bight with lots of force, so conditions can change rapidly. Size: Knee to chest high. Wind: NE Swell: NE Bottom: Sand. Paddling: During major storms the surf can increase dramatically while creating crazy rip currents between the undeveloped barrier islands. Spot Rating: It’s not even the good Georgia, therefore challenging Connecticut, Mississippi and Louisiana for the smallest, weakest, least-consistent ocean waves in the country. Access: Owned by the Saint Catherines Island Foundation, the island is inaccessible to the public except for the beach below the mean high water line, and by boat only. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Empty. Local Vibe: What’s a local? Environment: Georgia was the first state to provide real time water quality data online, and water testing here is consistent and transparent. Hazards: Isolation, sharks, jellyfish, rips. Season: September-March