Surfing Waves

Hi, I’m a beginner - intermediate surfer. I’ve been surfing about 18 months with lots of coaching and can surf across the face left and right and can do basic pumping and bottom turns. I’m working on my top turns and hope to have some idea of linking the two by March next year. Myself and my husband similar level want to go on a surf trip with two other friends who are better surfers then us. They are not advanced but they are intermediates with long years of wave experience. We are tossing up destinations mainly with the view to less crowds , still fun stuff to do and eat in the evenings . Destinations that appeared included mentawai and Fiji but I’m worried the waves here would be too advanced for me, can anyone give advice. Also if there are other destinations that might suit better. Date and times are flexible probably first half of the year next year. Maldives is also an option but it’s quite pricey so I’d need a good boat that will cater to people also of our level as I understand majority rules on boat tours and I’m sure I’d be the worst surfer on board. Thanks heaps!

Where are you travelling from? And do you have time of year?

Fiji has some (although not many) smaller/easier breaks and you can stay in a nice resort, but most of the breaks are reef breaks that can be shallow; Metawai's I'm not totally sure about but its generally seen as for advanced surfers. Maldives does have some shore based surfing, you dont necessarily need a boat; however its also resort based and (as you noted) more expensive. There are some relatively easier reef based breaks, but as you say you would need to find a suitable boat.

There are other locations that might suit - Central America in particular (Costa Rica) and even left field places like PNG (well, not much to do in the evenings) and, of course, Indonesia. Europe/North Africa has a few options.

Thanks!!
Travelling from Australia, month I don’t really mind, can be flexible. Was hoping prob april- August

Let's cover it for you! August is a good month for your plans, and at each of the destinations you will most likely be either resort or boat based.
So expensive! Most of the areas are based on Reef breaks! Mentawais some resorts have softer and even some sand breaks, Maldives are not in general as powerful as the Mentawais. Fiji some beach breaks but most on offshore reefs.
Because of the time of the season you need to book well ahead.
A Mentawai recommendation Kandui Resort, the access at least 25 breaks with a number of speed boats that take you to waves of your level, pros and frothers get to go to other breaks. Expensive but worth it.
Maldives mainly Resorts, two spring to mind Hudanafushi ( Louis) and Cinnamon Dhonivelli ( Pasta Point)
None of these areas have just rock up,and hang out at the beach , it is only resort or boat!

Then think of travel, wherever you choose is entirely dependent on the whims of the ocean, it can exclude you by playing the three bears , too big, too small,and just right. Hopefully the latter.

You need to consider, flights to each and board transport, adds to the cost, Garuda at least includes boards.
An absolute must, specific travel Insurance, that covers full medical evacuation, reputable resorts or boats will not accept you without it!

I've surfed all these areas, Kandui Resort tops my list ,guides, safety, personal photography, and waves available for your ability, with room to upgrade your Ability.
Expensive , yes about $3000 US per person for 10 days and an two flights and luxury speed boat trip to cross the ocean to the resort!
There are other resorts in the same area to compare!
Hope this helps, can advise you more if needs be!

ok, probably Central America and Europe/Africa are a bit far. Jaffa has mentioned possible options for Maldives and Mentawais

There is always just heading over to Byron Bay or Noosa and spending the saved airfare money on a luxury house and some high end meals. Or Margaret River, that has a lot of what you want. These are probably more spring/autumn prospects, rather than deep winter - although Noosa in winter can be nice if you are in southern Australia.

A lot of people at your level have really enjoyed Nusa Island in PNG, but its a small resort with not much to do outside of water sports. Its more a southern summer surf season but maybe worth consideration.

Fiji easier breaks are ones like resorts left, maybe shifties, Hideaway etc on Vita Levu (main island). Namotu lefts (on Namotu Island) is also an option. Then you/the better surfers can do day surf trips out to some of the more advanced areas. Fiji is pretty resort based; most people eat in the resorts and so forth, even on Vita Levu (while you dont have a choice on any of the smaller islands). Fiji doesnt have a huge variety of 'lower level' breaks, so if the winds or swell direction arent co-operating, you might end up with not very much. Probably would put Fiji towards the bottom of the options list

There is, of course, Bali; but perhaps Lombok might suit more. Jaffa (posting above) really likes Heaven on a Planet and might be able to advise more on this area; and there are some other areas in the region that have similar set ups or which are full on surf training camps (eg Surf Camp Lombok) (again not that much night life). However, there are a few towns where you could stay and then hop on surf tours each day.

Bali has the benefit of having a lot to do, but the surfing is a bit more/lot more crowded. It doesnt have a huge range of beginner-intermediate breaks, and they tend to be very crowded as a result. Nonetheless, its definitely an option (you could hire a surf guide for a week and get him to take you around to good spots). There are a few posters here that live in Bali and could offer advice if you decide to go.

Finally there is Hawaii. I personally dont know much about Hawaii and I dont imagine its uncrowded, but its potentially an option.

(actually, finally there is New Zealand. Yes its colder but it has some pretty good surf, and is an easy trip. Lots to to see and do. Obviously not the tropic idyll!)

I guess 'not that crowded' and 'fun stuff to do and eat in the evenings' are inconsistent requirements! Particularly outside Australia. If you want 'a surf trip' then there are plenty of options; if you want 'a fun trip that involves some surfing' then its a bit harder to also have uncrowded surf.

Tbh, somewhere like Margaret River might be a good choice (or, if you are on the West coast, then Byron or Noosa etc). If you want a fun trip with some surfing, then Bali has a lot of options. If you want to be more immersed in surfing, then Lombok or PNG would be my choice. If you have the money, then Kandui Resort sounds brilliant

I'm jealous! Just need to get rid of my kids (and wife) and I'll be doing the same thing.

Thanks everyone, does anyone have experience with mentawai Around the first week of December? The website says waves generally less than head high- but does it get completely flat or is there generally a wave to surf most days?

Before you decide, have a read of this article and make an informed decision (by no means suggesting don’t go, just make an informed decision)

https://www.coastalwatch.com/surfing/25 ... ck-carroll

Without having been myself, macaronis resort could be a choice for December.

I live in Bali....Sumatra is not that far away (Ments) and we share the same swells and weather for the most part.

That said, first week of December is when I get out my skateboard. Bali almost always has waves but if there is one time of year that they disappear it would be around the first week of December thru January. I logged 48h in the water in November last year and 11h in December looking over my records.