Bennys (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for your patch of coast – Bennys (Hikkaduwa). Look, I’ll be straight with you: this 16-day stretch is a tough one. There’s no real standout surf to get excited about, and the whole period is plagued by cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions. The water’s sitting at a warm 83°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real surf we see is on Sunday, 30 August. Bennys is seeing a solid south-west groundswell, with a very long period of 19 seconds. The swell height is around 4 ft, and the combined energy is pumping hard at 1511 (strong wave energy). That long period means the waves will have real shape and power, but it’s coming with a cross-onshore wind from the west at 12 mph, making it choppy and messy. The tide could also be a factor. For a break like Bennys, which is a reef setup and takes a south-west swell well, this is frustrating. The wind is just ruining it. The afternoon is similar, with a slightly bigger 5 ft swell but the same cross-on breeze.

Monday, 31 August, the swell jumps up to 7 ft, again from the south-west, with a period of 18 seconds. That’s a solid, powerful groundswell, but the wind is still cross-onshore from the west-northwest at 12-16 mph. The combined energy is huge – 2862 in the morning (strong wave energy). This is serious wave height, over 8 ft, so it’s only for advanced surfers, and the conditions are described as poor. The wind is just tearing it up. The afternoon is a bit lighter but still cross-on.

Tuesday, 1 September, the swell drops a little to 6 ft, but the wind swings more onshore, and we still have that cross-on influence. The energy is still strong at 1963 (strong wave energy). Short story: it’s not great.

From Wednesday, 2 September, through to the end of the forecast, the swell slowly fades, dropping from 5 ft down to 2 ft by the 7th, and the period shortens. The winds remain persistently cross-onshore or onshore, mostly from the west or west-northwest, at 9-16 mph. The combined energy drops from 1211 (moderate wave energy) down to just 157 (weak wave energy) by the 6th. There’s a brief bump in period on the 7th and 8th, with 20-second and 17-second swells, but the swell height is tiny (2 ft to 3 ft) and the energy is weak. It’s a classic case of a distant groundswell that doesn’t have the size to do anything.

The second week, from around 8 September onwards, stays poor. The swell tries to pick up a bit on the 10th and 11th, with 4 ft to 5 ft south-south-west swells and periods of 17-18 seconds, but the cross-onshore winds just don’t let up. The energy is moderate to strong (963 to 1499), but the quality is low. It’s the same story: good swell, rubbish wind.

Honestly, mate, there’s no day here I’d call a winner. The setup at Bennys is a classic reef that loves south-west groundswell, but the wind is the enemy. If you’re a kite surfer, this consistent cross-onshore breeze and decent swell might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a frustrating run. The crowds at Bennys can be an issue, but with conditions this marginal, I doubt many will be out. Don’t hold your breath; the forecasts can change, but this one’s a long stretch of disappointing.

Rusty.

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