Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Dondra. The next 16 days have a bit of a slow start, but there’s a real pulse of energy coming through if you’re patient. The first few days are pretty flat and tough, with cross-offshore winds but not enough push. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The real tease starts around Monday, 20 July, with a long-period S swell building from the deep south, but the conditions are still only marginal. The first real standout action doesn’t hit until the 27th of July into the 30th. That’s where it’s at.

The first few days, from the 18th to the 23rd July, are a write-off. The swell is tiny, between 3 ft and 4 ft, and even with the wind cross-off from the W, the wave quality is poor. Combined energy is weak to moderate (419 to 291). Not worth getting wet.

By the 20th and 21st, the swell bumps up to 4 ft – 6 ft from the S, with periods around 15 to 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong (1651 to 1935). But the wind is still cross-off, and the forecast calls it “marginal.” It’s a tease.

The real bright spot is from Monday, 27 July, right through to the end of the month. On the 27th, we’ve got a 3 ft – 3 ft SSW swell, but the period is a super-long 19 to 20 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, and combined energy is strong (1074 to 1085). The wind stays cross-off from the W, keeping the surface clean. The reef at Dondra is made for this – it’ll line up perfectly.

The absolute standout is Thursday, 30 July. The morning sees a 5 ft SSW swell at 19 seconds, and by the afternoon it’s 6 ft at 18 seconds. The combined energy is massive (2014 to 2688). That’s a solid, powerful swell. The wind is cross-off and clean. It’s going to be a proper session, but heads up – at 6 ft, this is intermediate-to-advanced territory. Beginners will struggle. The period is long, so it’ll be a classic reef break with long, clean walls. Crowds are “sometimes” – not too bad.

The 31st July keeps it going with a 7 ft – 7 ft SSW swell, still strong energy (2580). That’s solid, powerful stuff. After that, into the first of August, the swell drops back a little but stays respectable at 4 ft – 6 ft. The entire run from the 27th to the 2nd August is the window. The wind is consistent cross-off, and the wave quality is the best of the whole forecast.

So, to wrap it up: don’t bother before the 27th. From the 27th July through to the 2nd August, Dondra is the spot. If you only get one session, aim for the 30th July. That’s the one. It’s a reef break, so the long-period swell will work perfectly. Get on it.

Rusty.

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