Ocean and Sea - Surf Theory

About 71% of the earth's surface is covered by water. Good for us sufers, because therefore there are great waves to ride on almost every coast.

The oceans and seas of this world offer waves at almost every coast of this earth to ride them. Even in the relatively small seas like the North Sea and the Baltic Sea there is surfing somewhere almost every day. Even at Lake Constance surfing is possible. We would like to introduce you to the three largest oceans of the planet, because the potential for perfect waves is highest on the coasts of the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

The Pacific - the Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean (Latin pacificus 'peaceful'), also called the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Silent Ocean, or the Great Ocean, is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth and borders all other oceans. Everything about the Pacific Ocean is huge! It is almost twice the size of the Atlantic Ocean and covers one-third of the entire surface of the Earth. It is the deepest ocean and is home to the largest (underwater) mountain on Earth, the largest coral reef and, more importantly for you as a surfer, it is home to the biggest waves.

The violent storms over the Aleutian Islands in the North Pacific, as well as the storms of the Roaring Forties, provide constant swell from all directions. The Pacific is framed by the Ring of Fire: 452 volcanoes lie on the edge of the Pacific Plate, stretching from New Zealand through Alaska and Japan to Chile. Hawaii rises majestically out of the Pacific in the middle of this huge tectonic plate and forms the center of the Ring of Fire as well as the surfing universe.

The Atlantic - the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean, also called the Atlantic Ocean, is the second largest ocean on earth after the Pacific Ocean. Its boundaries are the polar circles and the meridians through Cape Agulhas in the east and Cape Horn in the west. Compared to the larger and deeper Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic may not seem as impressive at first, but it too has some exciting superlatives. The Atlantic is the stormiest ocean in the world, it has the largest tidal differences and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge forms the longest (underwater) mountain range on earth. This mountain range is as long as the Himalayas, the Andes and the Rocky Mountains combined. The Atlantic Ocean covers 25 percent of the Earth's surface and receives the most fresh water of all the oceans from rivers. In comparison, the most people live on the shores of the Atlantic.

Indian Ocean - The Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is mostly located in the southern hemisphere. It borders the continents of Africa, Asia, and Australia, as well as the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and along the southern 60° parallel, the Antarctic Ocean. Although the Pacific is the largest ocean and the Atlantic the stormiest, the best waves are still found in the Indian Ocean. Why is that? The "Roaring Forties," a region north of Antarctica where one low-pressure area chases the next, generate waves almost continuously.

On their seemingly endless journey through the southern Indian Ocean, they find no land masses to slow the waves down. This very stable storm area at the 40° latitude of the southern hemisphere thus constantly sends perfect swells northward. Indonesia and a few scattered small islands soak up these waves and convert them into world class breaks in front of a tropical backdrop. It's not for nothing that Indonesia is the number one surf vacation destination.