The Mechanics of Snapper Rocks

No matter where you surf, knowing the mechanics of what makes a wave work will help. Where does the sand come from? What swell direction works best at which spot? The bathymetry underneath each wave play just as big a role—if not a bigger one—than everthing else. What makes a good wave a good wave? What makes the world’s best waves the world’s best? The contours of the reef. The shape of the sandbars. Snapper, and the Super Bank in general, is fed by a variety of different outlets. Here’s what makes it so mind-numbingly perfect.