NOAA/NDBC latest observations
Primary real observation source when a station reports wave height, period and direction.
public_text_feed
United States, Pacific islands, selected international partner stations
View sourceData sources
Where SwellOracle swell readings come from
SwellOracle separates real observations from marine models. That distinction matters: a buoy measures the ocean with an instrument; a model estimates conditions where nearby measurements do not exist.
Real observations: NOAA/NDBC
NOAA/NDBC is SwellOracle's main real observation source. When a station reports wave height, period and direction, it can confirm whether a swell has actually arrived offshore.
Not every station in the feed is useful for surf. Some are DART, weather-only or missing useful wave variables. SwellOracle classifies stations before offering them as favorites or alert targets.
Global coverage: Open-Meteo Marine
Open-Meteo Marine lets SwellOracle cover coasts without nearby buoys using named model points. Those points provide total wave, primary swell, secondary swell, wind wave, period and direction.
These readings should not be presented as real buoys. In the app they are labelled as marine model data so users know they are forecast-derived estimates.
Next real sources
The next priority is Copernicus Marine In-Situ for Mediterranean, European and global platform observations. After that, AODN/IMOS is the best candidate for Australia.
Regional national connectors can follow one by one: DHN in Peru, NOWPHAS/JMA in Japan, INCOIS in India, KHOA/KMA in Korea, Taiwan CWA, PNBOIA in Brazil, SHOA in Chile, NIWA/MetOcean in New Zealand and South African services.
Connectable sources
This registry separates sources already active from candidate networks for adding real buoys in new areas.
Active now
Open-Meteo Marine
Global model fallback used for named model points where real wave buoys are sparse; Chilean coast model points are refreshed as active stations.
DHN / Naylamp Peru wave forecasts
Official Peruvian wave forecast maps and coastal products. Current public pages expose images, not reusable point observations, so SwellOracle keeps them separate from real buoy data.
Copernicus Marine point model
Backend can use this when COPERNICUS_MARINE_POINT_URL is configured.
configured_point_api
global, Mediterranean, Europe, southern hemisphere
AODN / IMOS observations
Australian wave buoy observations are loaded from AODN THREDDS/OPeNDAP for the seeded East Australia, West Australia and Tasmania stations.
Prioritized candidates
Copernicus Marine In-Situ observations
Real in-situ wave observations are queried for configured regions, including Peru when Copernicus exposes useful wave platforms.
Puertos del Estado oceanographic networks
Candidate for Spain, Canary Islands and nearby European Atlantic/Mediterranean coverage.
provider_specific_connector_needed
Spain, Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Atlantic Europe
View sourceSHOA / Chile oceanographic observations
Candidate for Chilean coastal observations if wave variables and reuse terms are confirmed.
DHN / Peru oceanographic observations
Candidate for Peruvian coastal observations if a public, reusable feed with wave height, period and direction can be confirmed.
Brazil PNBOIA / national buoy networks
Candidate for Brazil and South Atlantic coverage through official Brazilian marine observations.
NOWPHAS / Japan coastal wave network
Candidate for Japan once access format, update cadence and wave variables are confirmed.
INCOIS / India ocean observations
Candidate for India and Indian Ocean coverage if public wave feeds can be consumed reliably.
New Zealand MetOcean / NIWA observations
Candidate for New Zealand after confirming public access and licensing for operational wave observations.
Other regional national wave networks
Use one connector per official provider once API format, license and reliability are confirmed.
provider_specific_connectors_needed
Korea, Taiwan, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay
Current model coverage
These points are not real buoys: they are named model references for coastlines without nearby instrument coverage.
New Zealand
Northland west coast model, Northland east coast model, Raglan coast model
Brazil
Para coast model, Ceara coast model, Rio Grande do Norte coast model
Chile
Arica coast model, Iquique coast model, Antofagasta coast model
Peru
North Peru coast model, Bayovar coast model, Salaverry coast model
Australia
New South Wales coast model, Queensland coast model, Victoria coast model
Spain
Galicia coast model, Canary Islands model, Balearic Islands model
Italy
Ligurian Sea model, West Sardinia model, Sicily coast model
Greece
Crete coast model, Aegean Sea model, Ionian Greece model
Indonesia
Bali coast model, Mentawai coast model, South Java model
Practical takeaway
When a good nearby buoy exists, use it as real confirmation. When it does not, a clearly labelled model point provides useful coverage without confusing measurement and estimation.