Laguna Beach Video Appears to Show Surf & Sand Seawall Failure

A newly circulated video appears to show part of the oceanfront seawall at Laguna Beach’s Surf & Sand resort giving way, according to SURFER’s October 18 report. The publication cautions that the extent of structural damage has not been independently confirmed. My first takeaway: this is a reason to give the shoreline some space, not move closer for a better camera angle.

For surfers, the story goes beyond one oceanfront property. SURFER reports that repeated hurricane-generated swells have removed protective sand from Orange County beaches. I’m keeping two questions separate here: how good the waves might be, and whether the route to those waves is safe. A promising forecast answers only the first.

What the report establishes—and what it doesn’t

According to SURFER, an Instagram clip purports to show a section of the hotel’s oceanfront barrier failing. The publication also points to separate footage from Laguna Beach surfer and skimboarding champion Blair Conklin documenting powerful waves striking the property.

Those are related observations, but they are not a completed structural assessment. SURFER explicitly leaves the extent of the hotel’s damage unconfirmed. I would not turn that uncertainty into claims about the condition of the entire building or the safety of adjacent beach access.

For broader context, SURFER cites Surfline reporting that overlapping Southern Hemisphere and tropical swells arrived October 9 while water levels were more than a foot above predictions. SURFER also identifies Hurricane Rachel among the recent sources of swell that stripped sand from Orange County beaches.

That earlier water-level departure is historical context—not an extra foot I can automatically tack onto today’s tide table. Likewise, a regional explanation for erosion does not establish the precise engineering cause of an apparent seawall failure.

Nearby surf: attractive numbers, separate safety questions

For Monday, October 19, the Surfing Tomorrow forecast gives nearby Aliso Creek an Excellent 82/100, with 4–5-foot breaking surf during the 8–10 a.m. window, 2-knot wind and a falling tide. Its daily forecast lists a 13.5-second period, with the best hour around 9 a.m.

Our break profile identifies Aliso Creek as a sand-bottom beach break and shorebreak, typically favoring mid tide. My read: that combination deserves experienced judgment, not a beginner’s automatic paddle-out. “Excellent” describes the modeled surf opportunity; it is not a beach-access inspection wearing sunglasses.

Farther south, Salt Creek earns Good, 74/100, with 3–4-foot surf, 3-knot wind and a falling tide from 8–10 a.m., according to the Surfing Tomorrow forecast. The daily swell inputs are 187° at 13.05 seconds.

Our Salt Creek profile lists reef and sand beneath the lineup and a preferred swell range of 190°–290°. That forecast direction sits just outside the listed sweet spot—one reason I would use the model as a planning tool, then assess the actual sets and access before committing. Neither nearby forecast measures conditions at the hotel’s wall.

What it means for surfers

My practical call is to keep the reported damage area off the session itinerary. Don’t approach a potentially compromised barrier to inspect it yourself, and don’t treat a lull between sets as permission to squeeze past it.

Before choosing any nearby paddle-out, check current lifeguard guidance, posted restrictions and the exit route. For less-experienced surfers, I would pass on the modeled 4–5-foot shorebreak session rather than let a high rating make the decision.

I’m all for finding clean lines. But this Laguna report is a reminder to check the landward side of the session, too. The best wave is still the one you can get to—and return from—without gambling on a damaged shoreline.