Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get stuck into this one. We’ve got a single spot on the menu, the reef at Dondra, and the next 16 days are going to be a mixed bag. The water is sitting at a warm 84°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year, so no surprises there.

First thing to say: don’t expect perfection. Dondra is an inconsistent spot, and this forecast leans into that reputation. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross from the W and WSW, which is workable, but those winds are hanging around 12 to 15 mph for most of the run, so it’s never going to be dead glassy. The mornings are looking cleaner though, so dawn patrol is the play.

Alright, let's get into it. We kick off on Thursday the 10th. It’s a bit of a shaky start with a risk of thunderstorms and 5ft of SSW swell at a very long 18-second period. The combined energy is right up there at 1333, but it’s a bit of a tease—the wind is a bit messy, and the forecast isn't screaming quality. It’s a day to have a look but maybe not get too excited.

Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th are the highlights of the first week. Friday sees 5ft to 5ft SSW swell, but the wind stays cross which puts a bit of a bump on it. Saturday, though, is where it’s at. We’ve got a solid 7ft of SSW groundswell rolling in at a 17-second period, plus the wind is cross-off. There’s a ton of grunt in the water—the combined energy readings for Saturday morning and afternoon are 2646 and 2577, which is serious power. This is the pick of the first week. For the experienced crew, this will be firing, but for beginners, that’s getting a bit steep. Saturday’s your call.

After Saturday, the swell drops back into the 4ft to 6ft range for the rest of the first half of the month. It’s all clean surf with that cross-off wind, but the energy is hanging between 1400 and 1800. It’s surfable, it’s just not the kind of session you’d set your alarm for.

Now for the second week, things get a bit smaller but Sunday the 19th and Saturday the 19th (sorry, that’s a typo in my head—let me re-read) actually, Saturday the 19th of September is another spike. We see 6ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, both from the SSW with a 16-second period. The energy bounces back to 1868 and 2136. That’s the other standout, but we’re talking 9 days out so it’s a promising long-range call, not a sure thing. Winds are still cross-off, so the shape should be there.

After that, it slowly fades. From Monday the 22nd, the swell slips under 5ft and the energy drops to three-digit numbers. By Wednesday the 24th, we’re looking at 3ft to 3ft waves. It’s not gone, but it’s thin. There is a brief spike on Friday the 25th with 4ft and a 13-second period plus an energy reading of 1299, but it’s towards the very end of the window and the wind is a fresh 18 mph, so more of a wind-swell bump than clean groundswell.

Overall, if you can get in the water on Saturday the 12th, you’re onto the best deal in this whole window. The second Saturday, the 19th, is the long-range follow-up. Otherwise, it’s a lot of 3ft to 6ft clean waves that are worth a paddle if you’re keen, but nothing that will blow your mind. Keep an eye on that sky too—plenty of thunderstorm risk in the mornings.

Rusty.

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