Top 5 Wave Pools in the World
Every Grom and Surfer enthusiast across the globe dreams of the perfect wave rolling through, one after the other. All lovers of the sport wait for the weekend or their next holiday to venture to the ideal part of the coast with perfect conditions, during the right month of the year, hoping to find that perfect little barrel or long peeling wave to catch their 30 seconds of bliss.
In recent times we have seen an ingenious idea come to life and quickly advance through technological engineering, the world of Wave Pools. A fastly expanding industry, located in different pockets of the world and now at the fingertips of surfers ready to have their perfect idea of a wave to ride no matter the conditions.
Currently, we have seen 6 different wave technologies prove worthy.
- Air Compression – Wave generation through air compression is created using a vacuum and pressure system inside concrete chambers. Through jets at the bottom of each chamber, the pressure is pushed through and sent out into the body of water across the contoured floor creating the swell. Pressure gets pushed out of each chamber in different sequences to create all different types of waves.
- The Hydrofoil – This system uses a galvanised steel blade to move through a body of water. The blade gets pulled along an underwater cable line track pushing the body of water into a wake that flows along the contoured floor to then form the wave. This is designed to interact just like the ocean does with the bed of sand or reef beneath, displacing the lagoon of water to create specific surf zones, wave shapes and a channel to paddle out in.
- Levers – The second technology seen through Wavegarden’s pools, the Levers system uses small levers inside multiple modules to create the waves. More modules = longer waves. The modules run through the centre of the lagoon alongside a concrete wall creating a refraction wave to help build the size up. Controlled by software the levers move harmoniously to create a wide variety of different shapes, sizes, power and frequency of waves.
- Plunger – The Plunger system is inspired by the motion of someone jumping into a body of water with their knees tucked up to create a bomb dive thrusting the water down and outwards in a circle around them. A huge hollow steel bowl is lifted in an up-and-down motion in the centre of the lagoon powered by compressed air. Because of the circular shape and the contoured surface, the water moves outwards creating 8 different breaks all forming on different sides of the plunger.
- Wave Dumping – Used at the Wadi Adventure Park in Dubai, this system pumps water into a reservoir tank and once filled to a certain point then forces the water into the pool in such a motion that creates waves. This technology doesn’t allow for much variety in controlling the size and speed of the waves, however, all it needs is for more water to be dumped at once to create a bigger and stronger wave reaching 3.3 metres high.
- Rotating Fan – A wave generator that floats on the ocean as seen in France, The Okahina Wave project. Dispersing from a central point underwater, the waves are created by a fan-like machine with blades that loop around to form one continuous wave. Waves can range from 2-6 ft high and rotate one way to create a left-hand break and the alternate way to create a right-hand break.
At present, there are 15 Wave Pools around the world. Some of these are currently kept away from public knowledge and saved for the best in the ‘biz’, although through our research we believe the following 5 to be the best and most accessible. We aim to help those seeking the perfect ride be informed on which Wave Pool they need to add to their bucket list and below is all the information you need.
Praia da Grama, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Wave Generating Technology:
Wavegarden Cove Technology – The Hydrofoil
Pricing:
Currently only open to the private residence or membership holders
Wave Information:
- More than 20 different waves on the menu
- 6 wave categories: Bays, Waikiki, Malibu, Turns, Barrels, Airs
- Levels: Beginners – Professionals
- Left & right breaks
- 3-4 different wave sizes per wave type
- 2-3 different peeling speeds
How Many Waves Per Session:
- 1hr sessions up to 1000 waves/hour
- Breaking at 4 different areas to allow for different types of waves to roll through at the same time
- 90 surfers in the water simultaneously
Waco Surf, Waco Texas, USA
Wave Generating Technology:
American Wave Machines Perfect Swell – Air Compression
Pricing:
Stay & Surf Guests – discounted surf session for guests that pre-book to stay at onsite accommodation:
- Beginner – Includes board hire – $89 – $109
- Intermediate & Longboard session – $109 – $129
- Expert – $119 – $129
Open to the public – Space Available:
- Beginner – Includes board hire – $79 – $99
- Intermediate and longboard session – $99 – $119
- Expert – $109 – $129
- All-day beach club passes/spectators pass – $19 per person
Private beach club cabana day hire – starting at $149 per day
Wave Information:
- Beginner, Intermediate and Expert
- Left and Right Breaks
- Length of Wave: 30-60 meters
- 1:10-1:30 minutes between sets
- Waist to head-high waves
How Many Waves Per Session:
- 1hr sessions
- 120-160 waves per hour
- 3 wave sets
Wave Park, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Wave Generating Technology:
Wavegarden Cove Technology – The Hydrofoil
Pricing:
Surf Sessions:
- Bay Whitewater $80
- Beginner/Intermediate $100
- Advanced $100
Surf Lessons:
- Bay Whitewater $125
- Reef level up $145
Admission:
- Adult $52
- Child $40
Rentals:
- Wetsuit $12.50
- Softboard $20
- Hardboard $52
Wave Information:
- Basic Lesson, Bay Intermediate Lesson, Riff Level Up Lesson, Children’s Surf Lesson, Bay Free Surfing, Reef Free Surfing
- Wave Height – 2-7 ft
- Both left and right-hand breaks
- Length of wave: 60-100 metres
- Gentle knee-high rollers to head-high slabs
How Many Waves Per Session:
- 1hr sessions
- 400-600 waves per hour
Urban Surf, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Wave Generating Technology:
Wavegarden Cove Technology – The Hydrofoil
Pricing:
Prices per session as listed below or there are many different options for multi-buy sessions and membership packs.
$5 per person spectator pass.
Sessions
- Cruiser / Cruiser Turns $69-$79
- Intermediate $79
- Advanced / Turns $89
- Expert $129
Multipacks
- 3 x Beginner Lessons $210-$240
- 3 x Cruiser / Intermediate Lessons $289-$319
- 10 x Cruiser / Intermediate Sessions $620-$710
- 10 x Advanced Sessions $799
- 10 x Expert Sessions $1160
- 20 x Seasonal – Winter $1299-$1469
- 20 x Seasonal – Autumn / All Year $1379-$1549
- 20 x Seasonal – Spring $1399-$1509
- 50 x Seasonal – Winter $2759-$3109
- 50 x Seasonal – Autumn / All Year $3159-$3559
- 50 x Seasonal – Spring $2959-$3329
- 5-Week Challenge $289-$379
Coaching
- Beginner Coaching $149
- Cruiser Coaching $199
- Intermediate Coaching $199
Lessons
- Learn to Surf $74-$89
- Beginner I Lesson $74-$89
- Beginner II Lesson $74-$89
- Cruiser Lesson $109-$129
- Intermediate Lesson $109-$129
- Surf Skate Lessons $39-$89
Memberships
- Gold Membership $2800-$3100
- Aqua Membership $1200-$1600
- Foundation Membership $2800-$3100
Hires
- Surfboard Hire $30
- Softboard Hire $15
- Wetsuit Hire $20
- Skateboard Hire $10
Wave Information:
- Urban Surf is open to the public and caters for everyone from beginners to experts
- Left-hand and right-hand breaks
- Chlorinated water
- Runs two different sessions at once
- 1hr sessions
- 6x levels: Cruiser, Cruiser Turns, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced Turns, Expert
- Wave height: 2-7ft
- Length of rides: Beginner 8-10 seconds, Intermediate/Advanced 12-16 seconds
How Many Waves Per Session:
- 900 – 1000 waves per hour
- 10-12 waves per surfer per session
Surf Lakes, Yeppoon, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Wave Generating Technology:
Surf Lakes Technology – Plunger
Pricing:
Currently, a private venue but will be open to the public in 2024.
Wave Information:
- Wave height: 2-8ft
- 360 degrees of waves
- Left and right-hand breaks
- Series of reef, point and ledge breaks
- Produces 5 different breaks at once
- Beach Break – ideal for longboarders and beginners
- Occys Peak – the signature wave, which offers a long wave ‘whackable’ walls
- The Island – a heavy, draining slab wave
- Man-made pool, chlorinated water
How Many Waves Per Session:
- 2000 waves per hour
