[Vic S]

If the waves are 83 feet in the open ocean, won’t they typically increase in size when they get to shore?

(I’m in flyover country so have no direct experience with ocean wave behavior)

---

Not in the east coast, the continental shelf will slow the swells way down. If they were to hit Hawaii or most of California they’d be huge.

[VastRWCon]

Not in the east coast, the continental shelf will slow the swells way down. If they were to hit Hawaii or most of California they’d be huge.

Example: I'm in Hobe Sound FL east coast, we have to go out 26 miles to reach deep water fishing (1,000-2,000 ft). It can be 45 feet deep for several miles before you get to the 100's.

Now the Bahama's are only 56 miles out from our inlet.

[Rusty0604]

So is that why California has better waves?