Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right from the get-go, the Dondra reef is looking a bit moody and mushy for the next few days. It’s an inconsistent spot at the best of times, so we’re not seeing a solid, pushy swell just yet. The water is sitting at 84° Fahrenheit, which is a touch warmer than the usual for this time of year, so it’ll feel nice on the skin even if the waves aren’t firing. The energy in the water is moderate at best right now, with a combined energy of 794, and it’s coming in from the SSW.

For Tuesday morning, it’s a cross-shore breeze with a cross-chop, and we’re looking at 3 feet of swell. It’s not terrible, but the wind is messing with the face a bit. The afternoon cleans up a touch better with a cross-off breeze, and 2.6 feet at 16 seconds, which is a nice long-period groundswell, but it’s still small. The energy reading is 569, so it’s weak. This is a spot that needs a bit more push to really get going, so I’d skip the paddle on Tuesday unless you’re happy hunting the odd clean one.

Wednesday is more of the same, if anything a little worse. Morning is poor with 2.3 feet and a cross-chop making things messy. The afternoon bumps up slightly to 2.6 feet with a cross-off breeze, but it’s a struggle. This is not the window to get excited about.

Now, here’s where things start to breathe. Thursday morning sees a pulse of new energy with 4.6 feet from the SSW, and the period jumps to 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The energy reading is 1638, so it’s starting to feel more alive. The wind is still cross-shore, but the afternoon turns on. It’s 4.9 feet, cross-off, and clean with an energy of 1476. That’s the first real sign of a surfable day. The long period makes it a bit more lined up on the reef, which is where you want to be.

Friday is building. Morning is 4.9 feet with a clean cross-off, and the energy is up to 1973. That’s a solid, moderate push. The afternoon drops back a touch to 4.6 feet and the wind turns more cross-shore, so the earlier session is the one. Things are starting to look like a proper surf trip.

Saturday is the standout of the first week. Morning swell is 6.6 feet, and the afternoon pushes to 6.9 feet from the SSW with a cross-off breeze and a 17-second period. The energy is cranking at 2574, which is strong. The wave direction is matching the optimum for the reef, so it should be holding its shape. This is getting big enough that it’s starting to be a handful for the less experienced, but for the average surfer, Dondra is going to be firing. The wind stays cross-off for most of the day, keeping the face clean. This is the one to plan around.

Sunday holds in well. Morning is 5.6 feet, and the afternoon is 5.2 feet, both with a clean cross-off breeze. The energy eases off a bit to 1554, but it’s still a solid, fun size. It’s still good, but Saturday had that extra bit of size and grunt.

Next week starts to fade a little. Monday is back to 3.9 feet, and even though the period is a long 17 seconds, the energy is still moderate at 1803. It’s surfable, but the juice is dropping. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, just smaller.

Tuesday the 15th throws a curveball. The morning swell reads 8.2 feet, but the period is a short, bumpy 9 seconds. That’s a windswell, not a groundswell. Even with the size, that short period is going to make it a bit of a mess on the reef, and with a fresh breeze at 30 km/h, it’s not going to be pretty. The afternoon drops back down to 4.9 feet and a cleaner 14-second period, so you’d want to wait for that. That 8.2 feet of morning is too big and sloppy for the average punter, and even for the experts it’s not going to be classic Dondra.

For the rest of that week, we see a return to the 4.6-5.2 feet range, and the wind is consistently cross-off. By the 18th, the swell fades to 3 feet but with a very long 18-second period. It’ll be clean but lacking power.

Into the third week, the 20th afternoon shows a bit of a spike back to 6.9 feet with a 14-second period and an energy of 2193. That’s a decent pick-up. The 21st and 22nd are still in the 3.9-5.2 feet range with the same clean conditions, but by the 23rd, we’re winding down to 3-3.3 feet from the S. The energy

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