Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for Dondra over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – the whole 16-day window is a bit of a mixed bag. The models are pushing a steady westerly swell at a solid 5 ft to 6 ft through the first week, but that wind is a steady 16 mph cross-offshore. It’s not totally trashed, but it’s not clean perfection either. Gives it a bit of a bumpy, workable texture. The combined swell energy is moderate, climbing from the 800s up to the 1700s (1706) by Friday the 10th. The period starts short at 7 seconds, so it’s a bit weak and bumpy, but by Sunday the 5th we’re up to 10 seconds, which is a lot more push.

The best bet in this whole stretch? Look at Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th. The swell holds at 6 ft from the west, period stretches to 11 and 12 seconds, and the combined energy peaks at 1712. It’s still a bit of a cross-off breeze, but the wave quality should be there. That longer period will give you proper lines, and the energy figures (1706-1712) tell you it’s got some grunt.

From the 13th onwards, it shifts. The swell drops right down, to 3 ft to 5 ft, and the direction swings around to SSW and even S. The period gets noticeably longer – 15 to 21 seconds – which is proper groundswell. That kind of long period swell at Dondra (reef) can be real good, drawing up along the reef, but at these smaller sizes it’s going to be inconsistent. The combined energy drops back to the 600-1300 range, so it’s weaker. The wind stays cross-offshore though, so if you get a pulse, it’ll be glassy.

The real standout? I’m leaning towards Friday the 10th. The swell is 6 ft from the west, with a 12-second period. That’s good, solid, proper surf. The combined energy is 1712 – that’s the peak of the whole run. Wind is cross-off at 13 mph, which is the lightest you’ll see in that whole first week. That makes it the cleanest option of the whole period. It’s a reef break, so expect a nice, defined take-off when it’s on.

Because the swell is around 6 ft, that’s solid intermediate territory, and with the period going long, it’s not a beginner wave. Dondra can get crowded sometimes, so factor that in. The water temp is about average for July, so nothing weird there.

After that, the second week (from the 13th) is much smaller, with the groundswell running. It’s less consistent, and the energy is lower. It’s a promising long-range signal, but nothing we can call a stand-out for sure. Thursday the 16th has a 5 ft SW groundswell with 16-second period, and a score that could be worth a look if you’re patient.

So, to sum it up: the first week is the time, with Friday the 10th being the pick of the bunch. The second week is for the patient surfer looking for a clean but smaller reef wave.

Stay stoked.

Rusty

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