Montauk

Ditch Plains hosts a primarily right-breaking reef with A-frame peaks that both left and right handers can work. The rocky bottom holds shape consistently and produces hollow sections on larger swells. The break responds best to southeast swells and north or northwest offshore winds, though east swells wrap in cleanly as well. On higher tides the waves tend to become choppy and sectioned; lower tides often produce cleaner faces. Conditions vary significantly by location—Ditch Plains itself is suitable for intermediate and learning surfers in summer, while Turtle Cove at the point demands experienced ability due to strong currents and boulder fields.

Surfing in Montauk began in 1950 when a soldier named Richard Lisiewski rode a surfboard there, and by 1965 a competition at Ditch Plains attracted over 300 surfers from across the eastern United States. The area has sustained a continuous community and has hosted the annual Rell Sunn contest since around 1998, drawing surfers of multiple age groups and ability levels. Modern competitors including Chase Lieder and Quincy Davis have emerged from the Montauk lineup.

Ditch Plains sits two miles east of Montauk village at 10 De Forest Road, accessible by foot or bicycle free of charge. Vehicle parking requires an East Hampton Town beach sticker, limiting access to residents of the township. The beach has lifeguard coverage in season, restrooms, and food trucks, with adjacent hiking trails at Shadmoor State Park. Winter surfing demands thermal protection against water that regularly drops well below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The area experiences significant shark activity during June through September, strong rip currents and turbulence during Atlantic storm swell, large submerged rocks, painful stings from Lion's Mane jellyfish, and crowding during quality swells.