Is Malibu Safe to Surf? A Local’s Look at Clean Water, Empty Lineups & Summer Stoke
- Malibu Surf Coach
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Wondering is Malibu safe to surf right now? You’re not alone. Between headlines and rumors, it’s a fair question. But from a local who’s in the water every day—the answer is yes.Between wildfire updates, water quality rumors, and random TikToks from people not even in Malibu, it’s easy to feel unsure. But here’s the real deal—from surfers who are out there every day.
Malibu is open. The beaches are beautiful. And the water? It’s clean, safe, and absolutely surfable.
Crowds Are Down. Stoke is Up.
Right now, Malibu surf conditions are better than most realize—clean waves, fewer people, and no stress. It’s mostly locals in the lineup—those of us who live and breathe these beaches. My 70-year-old dad, “Gnarlo,” still paddles out every swell. If there was a real risk, he wouldn’t be out there, and neither would I.
As a lifelong waterman with 30+ years of experience in Malibu, I wouldn’t send my loved ones—or your family—into the ocean if I didn’t fully trust the conditions.
Is Malibu Safe to Surf after the Wildfires?
Our area around Broad Beach stayed completely untouched by the fires. Combined with natural terrain and ocean currents, this stretch has some of the cleanest beaches in Malibu.
Here’s the geography lesson no news outlet is giving you:
Malibu stretches 21 miles of coastline. While the Palisades fire impacted some southern areas, our location up north near Broad Beach remained untouched.
The fires never reached this far up the coast—and neither did the runoff.
Ocean currents in Malibu flow north to south. That means any debris or runoff from the fire zones is pushed away from our beaches, not toward them. Broad Beach and surrounding areas not only had less fire exposure, but they also have cleaner, more natural runoff paths compared to more urbanized beaches closer to LA.
Add in summer weather, minimal rain, and weekly water monitoring? This part of Malibu is clean, calm, and ready for you.
How We Keep You Safe
We check Malibu water quality daily and rely on trusted reports from Surfrider and Heal the Bay. Your safety is our top priority.
Check out the reports for yourself:
We monitor those reports (and the waves) every day. If conditions ever aren’t right, we don’t go out. Simple as that.
But 99% of the time? The water’s clean, the vibe is right, and your stoke is guaranteed.
If there’s ever a question about Malibu beach safety, we err on the side of caution.
What to Expect with Malibu Surf Coach
Every lesson is tailored to your experience and the current Malibu surf conditions. Whether you’re brand new or leveling up, our coaches plan sessions around the tides, swell, and winds to give you the best possible waves.
That’s what makes Malibu surf lessons with us so different — more than a lesson, it’s a full experience.
Private, personalized lessons
Whether it’s your first time on a board or you’re leveling up from foamie to shortboard, we tailor every session to you.
Coaches in the water with you
Reading the waves, spotting your pop-ups, and hyping every ride.
Conditions picked for your skill level
We time our sessions with ideal tides, winds, and swell for where you’re at. Every wave should feel like progress.
Malibu’s Still Got It. Want to See for Yourself?
So if you’re asking yourself, “Is Malibu safe to surf?” — here’s your answer: yes. The Malibu beaches are clean, the vibes are strong, and the waves are waiting.
Ready to experience surfing in Malibu 2025 the local way?
P.S. First Blog, Big Stoke
This is our very first blog post! We just gave our site a major refresh and launched this space to keep you connected to real-time Malibu surf news, behind-the-scenes fun, and tips from the Malibu Surf Coach crew.
We’re not just out here teaching—we live this.
See you in the water.
- Stingray 🤙
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