Ocean Pulse
NOAA buoy data, artfully.
Free · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Ocean Pulse — a different way to check the surf.
Ocean Pulse transforms real-time NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) buoy data into a living, glowing map. Each buoy pulses with light — color shows swell direction, pulse speed matches wave period, and brightness reveals wave height.
At a glance, you understand the ocean's current state without reading a single number, just like checking the surf from the shore.
Featuring 170+ buoys from Alaska to the Caribbean, Ocean Pulse covers the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Hawaii. Tap any buoy for detailed conditions including wave height, period, direction, and water temperature.
Save your favorite buoys for quick access. Search by name, ID, or region. Explore the color compass to learn the visual language of the ocean.
Want to know one of my favorite ways to experience Ocean Pulse?...I love to dock it on my desk charger in landscape mode, with the whole beautiful ocean is always right there alive next to me!
Ocean Pulse is the digital companion to my physical Ocean Pulse light sculptures — real-time ocean data, transformed into art (more about Ocean Pulse sculptures at www.seanobriendesigns.com).
Ocean Pulse Origins
I designed and built my first Ocean Pulse sculpture in 2011 after moving from the coast of California — where I could walk to check the surf every day — to Berlin, Germany, where the ocean was hundreds of miles away. I was always checking Surfline trying to stay connected, but I hated going online every time just to maintain my connection to the surf. I wanted to somehow have the "pulse" of the ocean in my living environment, always with me. I was craving the surf check ritual, coffee in hand, no matter where I lived in the world.
With no coding skills, my brother and my dad helped write the code for the first sculpture — LED lights that visualize wave period, direction, and height in real time. A close friend helped me refine it. Today, Ocean Pulse sculptures live in many homes, keeping ocean-minded souls connected to the rhythms of the sea.
With the advent of AI and my unrelenting curiosity about it, I was finally able to create this app — something I had wanted to build for a long time. While I love the Ocean Pulse sculptures and think everyone should have one in their homes, I know they're expensive. This app is my way of making the thing I love available to many more ocean-minded souls for the price of a cup of coffee. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope to refine it over time to make it even better for you.
This is truly a labor of love.
Share a review and tell me what you think!
- Added more buoys for expanded coverage
- Tap the tide station name to view the full source data on the web
- Fixed an issue where tide data would not update for your location
- Corrected buoy names and locations for improved accuracy
- Fixed an issue where some buoys would not display data
The developer, Sean O'Brien, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Sean O'Brien
- Size
- 22.4 MB
- Category
- Weather
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 13.0 or later. - iPod touch
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2026 Sean O'Brien