Ambinanibe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s look at what’s on the table for the Ambinanibe stretch.

The first week or so is pretty quiet, with a slow start on Thursday 16th July – only tiny 1.0ft to 2ft SSW slop with onshore or cross winds, so not worth paddling out. The surf doesn’t really come alive until Friday 17th July morning, when a cleaner 3ft S swell with a 13-second period shows up, and the winds are a light cross-off from the W. That’s the first real smile of the outlook, but it’s still small.

Things start to look better by Sunday 19th July morning. The swell picks up to a solid 4ft from the S with a 14-second period, and 0 km/h winds from the NE make the ocean glassy. The combined energy is pumping at a moderate 768, and the water temp is about average for this time of year. That is a standout morning for intermediates – clean, long-period groundswell, and since the swell direction is SSW and the optimum here is SW, it’s a good match. With the crowds marked as “sometimes,” you might get a few locals out, but it’s not going to be a zoo.

Monday 20th July morning is also looking tidy: 6ft SSW swell, 12-second period, cross-off breeze from the WSW, and combined energy at 918. That’s borderline big for beginners (over 5ft), but for intermediates it’s fine. Afternoons get chopped up, so the early sessions are the go.

Now, for the standout of the whole outlook – check Saturday 25th July morning. The swell builds to 8ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the wind is glassy from the SE at just 5 km/h. The combined energy is a big 2703, that’s strong stuff. This is serious groundswell, and at 8ft it’s into expert territory. It’s going to be powerful and long-period, so at a beach break it might be a bit straight, but it’s still a clean, big-wave morning for those who know what they’re doing. The water temp is average for the season.

The run from Tuesday 28th July morning also looks promising with a 4ft S swell and a 19-second period – very long period groundswell – and NE cross-off winds. The combined energy is a huge 1789. That’s smooth, clean, and will hold up well with that direction matching the optimum.

For the rest of the second week, there are several mornings with 5ft to 6ft SSW swells and good wind, especially on Thursday 30th July morning, but the afternoons mostly get messy. The 24th July Friday morning also brings 5ft with glassy conditions and 14-second period – a nice one for experienced surfers.

One thing to note – on Saturday 25th July morning, at 8ft, and Sunday 26th July morning, at 7ft, that’s too big for beginners; that’s for experts only. There’s a gap of no good surf on 16th July, and then again a few quiet afternoons, but the mornings on 17th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 28th, and 30th July all have solid, clean options.

Best on offer: Sunday 19th July morning for a classic 4ft glassy day, and Saturday 25th July morning for the bigger, heavier, 8ft groundswell – that one is the real standout.

Stay safe out there.

- Rusty

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