A very consistent world class wave, an extremely rippable left. This spot is loads of fun and probably one of the easiest waves to surf in the Mentawai’s. It’s the deepest and safest wave in the area and also picks up a bit more swell than other locales. There are 5 more breaks in the area, including E-Bay and Pitstops. Nestled inside a small bay with one of the most scenic views. Imaginable all around you!
Beng Bengs is one of those picturesque lineups that welcomes you to Mentawai’s with open arms. The chance to ease your way into the surf. Paddle out to Beng Bengs for an ultra-fun session with your mates before tackling the gnarly waves in the area. Provides super fun surfing conditions whether the waves are big or small.
Beng Bengs is a predictable left which breaks over a deep and forgiving reef, hold a wide range of swells and doesn’t typically barrel. If you love to log, this is one of the few waves you’ll find in the area. Because of its relative ease, Beng Bengs attracts beginners and intermediate surfers. But don’t be deterred it is a world class wave throwing out speed walls to draw out your lines and the rare cover up if you look hard enough.
Beng Bengs is a regularly clean, occasionally steep, and fast left hand wave. Accessible from shore, there’s a deep channel straight out from Luluni Mentawai surf bungalows where you can paddle around to the backside of the peak or head just north of Jupy surf camp to another smaller channel to the shoulder. Be prepared for an exposed section of reef at the end of the wave. If you find yourself in shallow water or high and dry, float off the reef and paddle around to the narrower channel on the shoulder to looker’s right.
Nipussi is a swell magnet just like its big brother ‘Bank Vaults’ further up the reef.
One of the most consistent surf breaks in the Northern Mentawai Islands, Nipussi a.k.a. Pussies sits in a pocket of Masokut Island sheltered from the wind. When the wind goes North and everything else is blown out, Nipussi is offshore and ready to rip. Super fun on any size swell and wind, you can bet on set after set of wide peaks that run down the reef producing high-performance right-hand walls of water.
Sits in an unusual wind shadow and tends to hold its shape when other breaks in the area are blown out. A consistent right-hand reef break, Nipussi offers intermediate surfers a chance to taste the far end of Bank Vault’s. Expert-only terrain as it is situated further down the island’s coastline. It has a tendency to get crowded under a strong North Wind. A few peaks along the reef offer steep drops, and you can expect the occasional barrel on the inside under perfect conditions.
Great for experienced surfers not quite ready to paddle out in the surrounding gnarliness. A shorter right that breaks down the point from Bank Vaults. Definitely a fun and rippable wave. Usually has fairly deep water from the takeoff to the inside. Ends in a riptide that sucks all the water back out to sea. A good option when there’s not much swell, and usually the most consistent spot in the area.
Nipussi is a quick and easy paddle out through the keyhole on the southern tip of Mosakut Island. Just be careful of the jagged reef entering and exiting the water in particular. Otherwise, you’ll have to stick to easy boat access. There is a thin strip of palm-tree lined white sand beach which meets jagged reef rock on the ocean edge. You can enter the water through a keyhole over the rocky reef and into the lineup.
Located in the Northern Mentawai Islands, Indonesia, 4 Bobs is a fun right-hander that offers up a bit of a warmup for those looking to get used to reef surfing. The walls here are usually short and a bit on the fatter side, great for ripping into. The waves here are easy to surf and break for up to 200 meters over a coral reef.
Mainly is a right with a short barrel of the take off, but quickly dies off into the channel. There’s an even shorter left, usually not worth the effort, low intermediates and kids love this wave. The best time of year for surfing 4 Bobs with consistent clean waves (rideable swell with light/offshore winds) is during Winter and most often the month of June.
Clean surfable waves are typically found 51% of the time in June while 23% of the time it tends to be blown out. For the remaining 26% of the time it is considered too small by most surfers but may still be OK for beginners and groms at times.
Gets good between waist high and double overhead. We recommend riding a longboard here when smaller and a shortboard as the size picks up. This break is suitable for all levels of surfer. The surf here is consistent (7/10) and will get busy at times (5/10). The best winds are from the North. The best swells are from the Southwest. Works on all tides.
We recommend wearing boardshorts or a bikini year-round. Water temperatures rise to 29 degrees in the summer and drop to 25 only in the winter. Consistency of swells are only recorded for a swell with a period of more than 7 seconds. This data is for the region and not necessarily specific to 4 Bobs. It also shows the peak, shoulder and off peak seasons for surfing at 4 Bobs.
Long, fast and hollow, Rifles is a natural footers dream wave. On a good day, Rifles may be the best wave in the world.
A clear open barrel at lightning speed careens down a long line of live coral reef off the eastern edge of Pulau Karangmajat, the opposite side to Kandui, Karangmajats other world-famous wave. There isn’t another island on the planet that can claim the calibre of two world-class waves, in the form of a right and left such as Rifles and Kandui.
Inexperienced reef surfers should keep well clear of Rifles and experts. Should be prepared for maintaining high speeds to stay ahead of Rifles tube spit. Recommended board is super fast board good for barrels. Advice to go fast and never give up going through inside the section that come ahead. Even on the inside the wave has excellent sections and can be surfed in any part of the reef.
In the channel, you can undoubtedly tell that Rifles is a powerful and hollow wave that could serve you up with a barrel of a lifetime. However, from the angle you anchor up in, you can’t tell how ridiculously fast and long Rifles is. But once you paddle into your first one, drop in and gun it for the green room. Quickly learn that the foam ball is always right on your heels. Be prepared for long hollow barrels and the odd surprise unmakeable section that shuts down. Keep your eyes out for northwest winds, strong south swell, and overhead to double overhead conditions.
Although there is a significant channel in the reef to the south of Rifles that has been carved out by the river mouth on the southeastern edge of Pulau Karangmajat and another channel to the north of Rifles on the more sheltered side of the island you will be accessing this wave by boat. Before paddling out into the lineup, take your time to watch a few sets from the channel on the northern side of Rifles where you’ll anchor up.
The beach on Karangmajat Island consists of a thin strip of beautiful white sand beach, scattered with coral and seashells.
Bank Vaults in the Mentawai Islands is a powerful right-hand reef break that works at almost any size and is very rarely flat.
The quick rise in the reef from the open ocean produces a thick lip that pitches quick and heavy. The surf here is often solid and sets easily catch you out of position. Unexpectedly all to frequently so be sure to bring more than one spare surfboard with a bit of volume. Bank Vaults is aptly named for its high-risk, high-reward nature. Expect a steep and hollow take-off over a section of exposed live coral reef. Bank Vaults is not recommended for beginners or intermediates. Ideal conditions are well overhead and glassy. If you make the drop, you’re in for a deep hollow barrel, fast wave, and steep shoulder regardless of tide.
Bank Vaults consistently attracts a tonne of swell and therefore regularly has very heavy surf and a shifting peak. Be sure watch more than a few sets before venturing out as you may be fooled into thinking it’s perfect from afar. Don’t take this break lightly as surfing Bank Vaults will be trickier than you think at first glance. Stick wide in the channel on the paddle back outside and if its double-overhead plus (ideal conditions for Bank Vaults) don’t expect much help.
Located on the most exposed tip of Masokut Island, Bank Vaults certainly isn’t known for its beach, however, you will find a thin strip of palm-tree lined white sand beach which meets a jagged reef on the ocean edge.
A frames, also know as John Candy, is located in front of one of the most beautiful islands of the Mentawais. Very consistent, shifty peaks with two main sections, one mushier on the outside that goes left and right good for turns and one left on the inside that trows some barrels on the lower tides. Very easy wave but the peaks are very shifty.
An a-frame, sometimes called a split peak, is a wave that peaks and then breaks left and right simultaneously. When you’re out in the water, the wave will appear with a peak that has an equal slope in both directions like an “A.” Hence, the name. it’s a fat wave good for turns that ends in the channel, the left is better, hollower and can trow some good barrels on the inside at lower tides ending in the channel.
If you’re surfing at an a-frame break and you paddle from the peak, you can choose whether to go right or left. Just make sure that if there’s another surfer on the peak you tell them which way you’re going. And if you want to be nice, don’t go in their direction so that you can go opposite directions and both get a ride—which is called splitting the peak.
A-frames waves are in contrast to “left” and “right” waves which only have a slope on the left or right. Can form on all three types of surf breaks: sandy-bottomed beach breaks, reef breaks, and point breaks.
Recommended board is Shortboard or Fishboard good for turns. With the outgoing tide its easy to loose position, keep paddling to be on the right place. Surprise sets come out of nowhere and provide good barrels on the inside!
Since early/middle 1990′s surfers visiting the Mentawai Islands to experience untouched rainforest and superb waves. The Mentawai Islands are such a great place for surf with classic waves breaking in crystal clear and warm water. What more could anyone want. The only way to surf all of the many waves in the Mentawai Islands and stay away from the mosquitos, is only by boat. Boats give you freedom and movability. Hundreds of “world-class” reef and beach breaks exists up here, making it one of the most surf-infested regions in the world. Most spots host mechanical perfection and vary in intensity for all level of surfer, making it an ideal surf vacation location.
Our good friend, the South Indian Ocean, produces the swells that have the islands pumping consistently from February through out November at 3-15 ft, and sometimes bigger! And the cyclone swells keep the surf rolling in throughout the remainder of the year. You come to the Mentawai’s, you get surf! The calm winds ensure that the swells that arrive are always lined up and of a very high standard. To get an idea what to expect just take a look below at the overview of Mentawai surf spots! Looks good, right?
Rifles: One of the best waves in the Mentawais. A very long righthander that wraps around the other side of the same island as No Kanduis. Sometimes makeable from start to finish, but even just from section to section you can get rides up to 100 yards or longer. Nice and hollow once it’s a few feet overhead, but usually more sectiony at smaller sizes.
Bank Vaults: A shorter chunkier version of Rifles. A thick, tricky, shifty right with a fast and intense tube for experienced surfers only, near Nipussi.
Nipussi: A shorter right that breaks down the point from Bank Vaults. Definitely a fun and rippable wave. Usually has fairly deep water from the takeoff to the inside. Ends in a riptide that sucks all the water back out to sea. A good option when there’s not much swell, and usually the most consistent spot in the area.
4 Bobs: A short, fun and mellow right hander for all surfers. Pretty mellow drop with the opportunity for a few good hacks at the lip and then it mushes out into deep water. It can get a bit shallow at low tide so you need to watch yourself but all in all, it’s one of the most rippable alternative’s in the Mentawai’s.
A Frame: A Frame is one of the most consistent lefts in the Mentawai Islands. The peaks at the top can be a bit shifty and require a fair amount of paddling around to find the right area while the inside section is more dependable and offers up a better wall to work with.
Beng Beng: A very consistent world class wave, an extremely rippable left. This spot is loads of fun and probably one of the easiest waves to surf in the Mentawai’s. It’s the deepest and safest wave in the area and also picks up a bit more swell than other locales. There are 5 more breaks in the area, including E-Bay and Pitstops, nestled inside a small bay with one of the most scenic views imaginable all around you.
Burgerworld: This is the most scenic righthand point break in the Ments. Loved by people of all surfing levels. Can offer barrels at times, but usually has long rippable walls to work on your combo’s. Wave magnet, so the less swell the better. Over 5 ft becomes mushy.
E-Bay: This is a hollow left that starts to barrel at the take-off followed by a short wall down the line. A great option when a lot of swell is hitting. E-Bay is world class wave for experienced surfers. Watch out for the two rocks on the inside. The scenery alone will blow you away. Besides its aesthetic beauty, double overhead E-bay is a beast and forces to be reckon with.
Pitstops: This is the right off the peak at E-Bay. A playful right that can offer some cover-ups off the take-off, but mostly a high performance wave with air sections at the end. Ends in a sandy channel.
Hideaways: A very hollow left that can be very shallow at low tide. The waves come out of deep water and then unload on a shallow section of reef before barreling towards the channel.
No Kanduis: A long barreling left that wraps around a small island. Usually very sectiony, but can line up on the largest of swells. Many barrels on offer, but usually only makeable for one or two sections before closing out.
Scarecrows: Another small swell left that can also hold some size. Scarecrows, sometimes referred to as Franko’s or Diablo’s, has the ability to spread out crowds with its several different take off spots. It is not a picture perfect Indo reef break because it shifts around depending on swell direction, size and currents.
Jaraiks: It is nothing more than a bend in the reef and hard to spot until you pull up right in front of it. Surfable on all tides and East – South East winds, Jaraiks actually stops working the moment there is any swell!
Telescopes: Telescopes needs a decent sized west swell to start doing its thing. Though not as consistent as the other breaks in the area, a session at firing Teles will remain imprinted on your mind long after you’ve left the Mentawais
Iceland: Icelands as most of the other waves in the zone is a left and is possibly the most ‘jekyll and hyde’ like wave in the Mentawais. When everywhere in the chain is flat you can still pull up at Icelands and get a head high wave with a lazy but whack-able wall. With a big west swell when everyone is getting excited about Telescopes the Ice turns into a monster with barrels big enough to drive the speedboat through.
Ht’s (Lances Right): A short, perfect barrel complete with the renowned surgeons table which should be avoided at all costs.
Lances left: Long left-hander with two barrels sections. Loves any size swell.
Macaronis: Super mechanical left that barrels from takeoff then provides a long, extremely workable wall. One of the best performance waves in the world.
Rags Right: A hollow right on the southern end of Rags Island. Similar to HT’s but a little longer, and just as good. It can be fickle, but it’s one of the best rights in the islands.
Rags Left: A great lefthander that can hold the biggest swells. It is very hollow and can often dish out some of the heaviest hold-downs in the island chain. Usually a bit more water is moving around so a larger board can be useful.
Thunders: A consistent hollow left and a great option when everywhere else is small.
The Hole: Another very hollow left off a small island in the southern end of the Mentawais. Starts barreling right at the takeoff and never really stops until a closeout section hits the end of the reef.
Lighthouse: A long righthander breaking off a postcard picture island located at the bottom of the Mentawai chain.
** And countless other spots you will surf thanks to our local guide! **
