New Zealand
Northland west coast model, Northland east coast model, Raglan coast model
Data guide
Buoy readings vs marine models
A buoy and a model point answer different questions. A buoy reports what the ocean measured at a real instrument. A model estimates conditions at a grid point, including places where no buoy exists.
Buoys are real observations
NOAA/NDBC stations are the strongest signal where they exist. They can confirm whether a swell actually arrived, whether the period is holding, and whether water temperature or direction changed.
The limitation is coverage. Many surf regions have no nearby wave buoy, or only DART and weather stations that do not report useful swell height and period.
Models fill the gaps
Open-Meteo Marine lets SwellOracle estimate total wave, primary swell, secondary swell and wind-wave components for coastlines without local buoys.
For surf alerts, SwellOracle prioritizes the primary swell component when it is available. That makes model points more useful than a single mixed total-wave number.
How to use both
When a reliable buoy is nearby, use it for confirmation. When there is no buoy, use model points as early guidance and compare them with local reports before making safety decisions.
SwellOracle labels model points separately so users can tell the difference between measured data and forecast-derived data.
What sources are next
The current production sources are NOAA/NDBC for real observations and Open-Meteo Marine for global model coverage. Copernicus Marine can also be enabled as a point-model provider when a configured endpoint is available.
The next real-observation integrations should be Copernicus Marine In-Situ for the Mediterranean, Europe and global platforms, then AODN/IMOS for Australia. Regional networks such as DHN Peru, NOWPHAS/JMA, INCOIS, KHOA/KMA, Taiwan CWA, PNBOIA, SHOA, NIWA/MetOcean and South African services should be added one connector at a time after license and API checks.
Current model coverage
These points are not real buoys: they are named model references for coastlines without nearby instrument coverage.
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
Buoys are best for verification. Models are best for coverage. A practical surf forecast benefits from both.