Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the coming weeks for our one and only spot on the radar – Dondra. It’s a reef break, and it’s inconsistent, so we’re not looking at a constant run of waves. The water is sitting at 84°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The forecast starts from Friday, the 4th of September. The first proper surf on offer is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a 4ft SSW swell rolling in with a 12-second period, but the wind is a cross-shore from the WSW at 12 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 618, but the conditions are a bit messy with a cross-chop, so it’s a marginal call. The next few days, right through to the 7th, see the swell hanging around the 3ft to 4ft range, but it’s all cross-shore wind and poor to marginal surf. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are similarly average, with the wind staying on it.

Now, things start to get a bit more interesting around Tuesday the 8th of September. The swell drops to 3ft, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds, and the wind swings to a cross-offshore from the W at 12 mph. The wave energy is moderate (529), and the conditions are clean. It’s a small, long-period groundswell, which is better suited to a reef like Dondra, but it’s still small. The following days, the 9th and 10th, see a similar pattern: clean conditions with cross-offshore winds, but the swell is only 2ft to 5ft. The energy is building, hitting 1260 on the 10th, but the surf is still marginal.

The real standout, the one you’ll want to circle on the calendar, is Saturday the 12th of September. The morning sees a 6ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, and the afternoon jumps to a solid 7ft from the same direction. The wind is cross-offshore from the W at 15-19 mph, keeping it clean. The energy is strong, hitting 3060 in the afternoon. This is a proper groundswell with a serious kick. The 6ft is a good size for intermediates, but that 7ft gets into the "experts only" territory. It’s a clean, powerful set-up, and a real highlight in the window.

The week after that, from the 13th to the 19th of September, the swell stays active. The 13th and 14th keep the 6ft to 6ft waves with clean cross-offshore winds, though the energy is still high, around 1441 to 1779. The 15th is similar. The wind turns more cross-shore from the 16th onwards, bringing a bit of a lumpy chop, but the swell sticks around at 5ft to 7ft. The 18th and 19th see a return to cleaner conditions with a cross-offshore wind on the 19th, and a 6ft SSW swell with a 15-second period and strong energy at 2311. That late-weekend session on the 19th is another one to watch, though it’s further out, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

Overall, the best bet is the 12th of September, with the 19th being a solid second option. The rest of the period is a waiting game for the clean, cross-offshore windows. It’s a reef break, so it can be inconsistent, but when it lines up with the right wind, it’ll be worth it.

- Rusty

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