Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you about the only show in town for the next couple of weeks. It’s all at Dondra, a reef break that doesn’t fire very often, so when it’s looking half-decent, you gotta pay attention. Straight off the bat, the water temp is sitting at 84°, which is about 1° warmer than average for this time of year, so it’s pretty normal, nothing wild.

Right now and into this weekend, it’s a bit of a wait. The swell is there – around 3ft to 4ft from the S – but it’s getting chopped up by a moderate cross-shore breeze. The wave energy is moderate, at best (381 - 563), but the conditions are just messy. You won’t catch me out there. Monday and Tuesday are similar, with a bit more size on Tuesday (3ft) but still a cross-shore wind and risk of thunderstorms. It’s just not happening yet.

Now, things start to get interesting from about Wednesday the 9th into Thursday the 10th. That cross-shore wind starts turning into a cross-offshore breeze from the W, cleaning things right up. By Thursday the 10th, we’re looking at a solid 4ft to 5ft swell from the SSW with a 17-18 second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy jumps to 1200-1307 (strong wave energy). This reef loves that long period stuff, and with clean conditions, it’s going to get good.

The real standout looks like Saturday the 12th of September. The swell is bumping up to 7ft from the SSW, with a 18-second period. That’s a huge amount of energy – 3191 (very strong). The wind is cross-offshore in the afternoon, making it clean. However, that size is getting into expert territory, over 8ft is for experts only, but at 7ft, it’s still manageable for strong intermediates. Just be aware, it is an inconsistent spot, so you might be waiting for sets, but when they come, they’ll be worth it. Crowds are a possibility here sometimes.

Another one to circle on the calendar is Wednesday the 16th of September. Another 7ft from the SSW with an 18-second period and a massive energy reading of 3233 (very strong). The wind is a cross-offshore in the morning, so it’ll be clean for the early session. Again, that’s not a beginner wave – stick to something smaller if you’re learning.

The very end of the run, Saturday the 19th of September, has the biggest swell of the whole period at 8ft from the SSW, with 14-second period. Combined energy of 2468 (very strong). Morning wind is cross-offshore and it’s cloudy, which is fine. That’s a beast for a reef break, and probably one for the experienced crew only.

So, if you’ve got the skills, the best bets are the afternoon of September 12th and the morning of September 16th. Consistent swell, clean wind, and a proper reef setup. The rest of the time, it’s either onshore trash or just too small to bother.

Rusty.

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