Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for our little corner of the surf world.

We’ve got a solid run of swell coming through, but it’s going to be a bit of a mixed bag with the wind. The main player here is Dondra, a reef setup that is inconsistent and requires a bit of patience. The water is sitting at 82°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The pattern kicks off on Wednesday morning, August 5th, with a 5ft SSW swell and a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is strong (1832), but the wind is a fresh cross-offshore breeze at 19 mph, which will keep the surface clean but might make things a bit lumpy. The swell direction is SSW, which is close to the optimum SW, so it’s tapping in alright.

We see this same sort of set-up through Thursday and Friday – consistent 5ft to 6ft S/SW swell with periods between 14 and 17 seconds, keeping the energy high (up to 1983). The wind stays a moderate to fresh cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean but with that persistent breeze. The quality is described as marginal, and the break is inconsistent, so you’ll want to be picky with your tide.

The best of the first week, and probably the standout of the whole forecast, is looking like Saturday morning, August 8th. We’ve got the biggest swell of the early run at 6ft from the S, with a solid 16-second period and a massive combined energy of 2231. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore, which is perfect for that reef. For a surfer who knows the break, this is the window to circle. It’s not huge, but it’s got the power and the length.

After that, the swell drops back a bit through the middle of the week, hanging around 4ft to 5ft, but the energy is still moderate. The wind stays the same story – cross-offshore, mostly moderate. It’s not a total write-off, but more of a maintenance session.

Now, looking further out, there’s a noticeable dip in quality around the 13th and 14th of August as the swell turns more SSE and the period drops to 11-12 seconds. The energy also drops into the three-digit range (around 600-1000), so it’s weaker. The wind starts to turn more cross-shore on the 16th and 17th, creating a bit of a chop, which isn’t ideal for the reef.

But hold on, because the next real standout is on Wednesday, August 19th. The swell jumps back up to 7ft from the SSW, with a 17-second period and a massive energy reading of 2682. That’s a powerful swell. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore again, so it’ll be clean. This is a big one for the reef, but at 7ft, it’s getting into the zone where it’s only for competent surfers. The long period and size will make it push hard, so it’s not a beginner’s day.

The wind is rarely glassy, so that’s a bit of a shame. It’s always a moderate breeze, which keeps things from being perfect. But for a location that’s inconsistent, we’ve got a decent run of waves. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might get a few others out there, but it’s not a circus.

There’s a small gap in the very best quality at the end of the second week, but the swell is there. The Thursday the 20th still has a solid 6ft SSW swell, which is worth a look if you missed the Wednesday peak.

So, to wrap it up: Saturday morning, August 8th is the pick of the first week, and Wednesday, August 19th is the big, powerful swell to aim for in the second week. It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better than a flat spell.

Rusty.

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