Dawn patrol surfing in Marina

Marina, California

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Marina means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

7:00 AM
First Light: 6:30 AM

Day length: 11h 58m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

7:00 AM

First light: 6:30 AM

Sunset

6:58 PM

Last light: 7:28 PM

Data from Marina State Beach · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

7:00 AM

Sunset

6:58 PM

Day Length

11h 58m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

7:01 AM

Sunset

6:57 PM

Day Length

11h 56m

Wed, Sep 30

Sunrise

7:02 AM

Sunset

6:55 PM

Day Length

11h 54m

Thu, Oct 1

Sunrise

7:02 AM

Sunset

6:54 PM

Day Length

11h 51m

Fri, Oct 2

Sunrise

7:03 AM

Sunset

6:52 PM

Day Length

11h 49m

Sat, Oct 3

Sunrise

7:04 AM

Sunset

6:51 PM

Day Length

11h 47m

Best dawn patrol spots in Marina

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Featured Beaches(1)

Marina State Beach

Advanced

Exposed Monterey Bay beach break north of Monterey. It can produce challenging beach-break barrels when conditions line up.

Dawn patrol access guide for Marina

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Marina State Beach
beach
intermediate-advanced

Exposed Monterey Bay beach break north of Monterey. It can produce challenging beach-break barrels when conditions line up.

Early access

Straight beach access, but check surf size and current before paddling out.

Parking

Use Marina State Beach parking and access. Wind and sand movement can make conditions feel exposed.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Marina

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Marina

Dawn patrol in Marina typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

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