Tides · Isle of Palms, South Carolina

Tide conditions for Isle of Palms surf spots

Predicted tides from the NOAA gauge at South Dewees Island, Dewees Inlet. Times are local (GMT-5). Not live water levels.

A foot of tide swing can shut down one break and light up another in Isle of Palms. These 1 spots all respond differently - some need the low to expose the bar, others clean up on a rising mid.

Right now

Rising

Next high 10:53 AM, 5.1 ft (1.57 m), in 4 h 44 min.

Today · Sat, Nov 14

  • Low4:02 AM0.9 ft 0.28 m
  • High10:53 AM5.1 ft 1.57 m
  • Low5:00 PM1.2 ft 0.35 m
  • High11:05 PM4.3 ft 1.32 m

Tide chart

TIDE
1.8 ft
02461AM5AM9AM1PM5PM9PM1AM
TIDENOW
Low 1.2 ft · 5:00 PMHigh 5.1 ft · 10:53 AM

Next 7 days

High and low tides for the next seven days
DayTides (local time, height)
Sat, Nov 14
  • L 4:02 AM · 0.9 ft
  • H 10:53 AM · 5.1 ft
  • L 5:00 PM · 1.2 ft
  • H 11:05 PM · 4.3 ft
Sun, Nov 15
  • L 4:44 AM · 1.0 ft
  • H 11:38 AM · 5.0 ft
  • L 5:45 PM · 1.2 ft
  • H 11:53 PM · 4.3 ft
Mon, Nov 16
  • L 5:33 AM · 1.1 ft
  • H 12:26 PM · 4.9 ft
  • L 6:33 PM · 1.2 ft
Tue, Nov 17
  • H 12:46 AM · 4.3 ft
  • L 6:31 AM · 1.2 ft
  • H 1:16 PM · 4.8 ft
  • L 7:23 PM · 1.1 ft
Wed, Nov 18
  • H 1:39 AM · 4.5 ft
  • L 7:32 AM · 1.2 ft
  • H 2:07 PM · 4.8 ft
  • L 8:12 PM · 0.9 ft
Thu, Nov 19
  • H 2:34 AM · 4.7 ft
  • L 8:34 AM · 1.0 ft
  • H 3:00 PM · 4.8 ft
  • L 9:02 PM · 0.7 ft
Fri, Nov 20
  • H 3:30 AM · 5.0 ft
  • L 9:35 AM · 0.8 ft
  • H 3:54 PM · 4.9 ft
  • L 9:52 PM · 0.4 ft

Tide station

South Dewees Island, Dewees Inlet · NOAA 8665111

Full station tides →

Tide by spot

The tide height and direction each break likes.

Top spot recommendations

Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.

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Featured Beaches(1)

Isle of Palms

Intermediate

Isle of Palms (IOP) is a mellow beach break just north of Charleston. It picks up less north swell than Folly due to its slightly southerly orientation but still provides consistent waves for beginners and lower‑intermediate surfers. During late summer and early fall, tropical storm swells provide punchier surf and more push.

What to focus on today

  • Annotated tide windows tied to specific breaks
  • How lunar cycles reshape sandbars through the season
  • Safety notes for rip-prone outbound tides
  • Session planning tips for dawn patrol versus sunset

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Isle of Palms

Tide preferences vary by spot in Isle of Palms. Generally, incoming mid-tides work well for most beaches, offering a good balance of wave shape and power. Check individual spot guides for specific tide recommendations.
Tides significantly impact surf conditions in Isle of Palms. Low tide can expose reefs and sandbars creating hollow waves, while high tide often creates softer, more forgiving waves. Mid-tide transitions typically offer the most consistent conditions.
You can check tide charts for Isle of Palms on Quiver's surf forecast pages, NOAA tide predictions, or various surf forecast apps. Quiver provides real-time tide information integrated with surf conditions for accurate session planning.