# Hi Otter · Swell Otter's AI surf helper for the UK

> Say Hi Otter and ask anything about surfing in the UK. Otter reads Swell Otter's live forecast and spot guides for you, explains what the numbers mean and tells you where to go. Free, no ads.

- Page type: Page
- Canonical URL: https://swellotter.com/hi-otter
- Last updated: 2026-11-09

New on Swell Otter
Say “Hi Otter”

Meet Otter, our AI surf helper. Ask where to surf this weekend, what a forecast means or which break suits you, and Otter reads Swell Otter's live forecast and spot guides for you. Free, no ads, no account.

Say Hi Otter
Otter is paddling out very soon. Look for the button in the bottom corner of every page.

Hi Otter

Hi! 🦦 I'm Otter, Swell Otter's surf helper. What can I help you with?

Is Croyde any good on Saturday?

Saturday morning looks like the pick: the swell period is long and the wind stays offshore until late morning. I'd aim for the push from low tide. The full hourly forecast is on the Croyde page. You otter get there early!

An example of the kind of answer you get. Otter's real answers use that day's forecast.

## What Otter can do

- Reads the forecast for youOtter checks Swell Otter's live 7-day forecast for any break and tells you which day and time look best, in plain words.

- Explains the numbersOn a spot page, Otter can pop up and walk you through the stars, surf height, swell period, wind and tide.

- Knows every break we coverFrom Thurso East to Bantham, Otter uses our own spot guides: who each break suits, the best tide, hazards and parking.

- Shows the live widgetAsk about a break and the live forecast widget appears right in the chat, with a link to the full forecast.

- Helps you learnBeginner beaches, what wetsuit to wear this month and where to go when the wind is onshore, from our guides.

- Honest when it's unsureForecasts are model estimates. If Otter doesn't know, it says so and points you to the right page instead of guessing.

## Questions
Is it free?

Yes. Otter is free for everyone, like the rest of Swell Otter. If it helps, you can buy us a coffee or try Premium to keep Swell Otter independent.
Is Otter an AI?

Yes. Otter is an AI helper built on Claude, made by Anthropic. It answers from Swell Otter's own forecasts and guides, and can make mistakes, so always check conditions and the lifeguard flags at the beach.
Do you keep my chats?

No. We don't store your chats or link them to you. Your messages are sent to Anthropic to write each answer. See our privacy notice.
Why does every chat start with “Hi Otter”?

Because it's polite, and otters like being said hello to. Say “Hi Otter” again at any time to start a fresh chat.

## Next steps
- [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/hi-otter)
- [How the forecast and star rating work](https://swellotter.com/about)
- [All UK surf forecasts](https://swellotter.com/)

## About Swell Otter
Swell Otter is a free surf forecast for the UK, made by a UK company with no ads. Live forecasts, tides and guides are free; optional Premium unlocks every surf cam. https://swellotter.com/llms.txt

## Notes for agents
- Cite as: "Hi Otter · Swell Otter's AI surf helper for the UK, Swell Otter (https://swellotter.com/hi-otter)".
- Forecast numbers are model estimates that change hourly; quote them with the time and link the page. Don't present them as observations.
- Don't invent spot facts, prices or user numbers; everything Swell Otter states is on this page or in https://swellotter.com/ai-fact-sheet.md.