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Quick answers about SurfTrip.ph - the forecast, the data, the spots, and why things work the way they do.

The forecast

Forecasts and data

01 Is your surf data free?

Yes - all forecasts and spot guides are free to use. No account, no paywall.

02 How often is the forecast updated?

Data comes in from multiple sources throughout the day, but the forecast is consolidated and published once daily.

Best time to check: 4 AM Philippine time. The full run is usually done by then. If you’re up around midnight, the wave data is in but wind may still be lagging.

03 What time zone is the data in?

Philippine Standard Time (PHT, UTC+8) all the way through. SurfTrip is a Philippines-only site and every forecast slot, tide time, and sunrise/sunset is in Manila time.

04 Why does the forecast not show anything before 6 AM?

Deliberate. Hardly anyone is in the water pre-dawn, so we skip those slots to keep the table clean and easy to read. If you’re planning a serious dawn patrol, the 6 AM slot is early enough to give you a meaningful read on conditions.

05 Where does the forecast data come from?

We source from public broadcast data - primarily NOAA GFS-Wave - which we recalibrate, blend, and align to Philippine surf spots. For the full source list and methodology, see how-forecasts-work.

The site

About SurfTrip.ph

06 Why only a limited number of spots?

SurfTrip started as a personal hobby project and is growing slowly. Adding a spot properly takes time - days of studying a break, calibrating the forecast, and writing something useful. We focus on spots we actually surf. More will be added as budget and time allow.

If you’d like to help us cover more breaks, you can sponsor a forecast or spot page - just get in touch.

07 Why no social media?

This is a hobby site with no dedicated team to run channels properly. We’d rather put the time into the forecast. That might change if the project grows. Volunteers and collaborators are always welcome via the contact page.

08 How do I report a bug or a wrong forecast?

Use the contact page. Tell us the spot, the date, and what looked off. Wrong tide times and clearly broken forecasts are the most useful reports.

A note on accuracy: Surf forecasts are guidance, not guarantees. Models are good at patterns; the ocean is good at surprises. Always check the beach before paddling out, and never rely on any single forecast tool - including this one - for decisions involving personal safety. See our forecast method page for the full picture.

FAQ last reviewed: June 2026.