Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s talk Dondra. This is a reef break that’s exposed to the swell, but it’s inconsistent – it doesn’t fire all that often. Over the next 16 days, we’ve got a long stretch of clean but pretty average surf. The water temp is about normal for this time of year.

The first chance to get wet is Friday morning, July 24th. We’ve got a 0.7m (2ft) SW swell with a 15-second period, but the cross-shore wind and a cross-chop make it look poor. The combined energy is 491 (moderate). Not great. By Friday afternoon, the wind shifts cross-off, cleaning it up, but it’s still marginal.

Saturday, July 25th, sees a bump to 1.4m (5ft) from the SSE, but the period drops to 10 seconds and the wind is cross-shore again. The energy jumps to 919 (moderate), but the wind keeps it messy. Sunday morning the 26th is similar – 1.5m (5ft), 11-second period, 951 energy, but cross-shore wind. Sunday afternoon cleans up with a cross-off breeze and a 1.4m (5ft) SE swell – that’s about as good as the first week gets.

From Monday, July 27th, through to the end of the month, we’re looking at a consistent run of clean conditions thanks to cross-off winds, but the swell stays small – mostly between 0.7m (2ft) and 1.2m (4ft), and the energy sits in the moderate range (569 to 904). The period is often long, hitting 15 to 20 seconds – that’s groundswell, and at a reef break like Dondra, that’s a good thing. The problem is the size is just too small for any real punch.

The standout window comes right at the end of the first week and into the start of August. Friday, July 31st, afternoon shows a 1.1m (4ft) SSW swell, 18-second period, and the energy is strong at 1611. The wind is cross-off and clean. That’s your best bet for the whole outlook – it’s not big, but the quality of the swell and the clean conditions make it the pick. Saturday, August 1st, is similar with 1.2m to 1.3m (4 to 4ft) SSW swell, 16-second period, and energy around 1353 to 1466, but the wind freshens to 30 km/h (19 mph), which might put a bit of a bump on it.

Sunday, August 2nd, has a morning pulse of 2.1m (7ft) from the west, but the period is a short 8 seconds – that’s windswell, and it won’t be any good. The afternoon drops back to 0.9m (3ft) SSW with an 18-second period, and the energy is 1408. Clean again, but small.

From Monday, August 3rd, through to Thursday, August 7th, it’s much the same story: 1.0m to 1.4m (3 to 5ft) SSW swells, long periods of 14 to 19 seconds, clean cross-off winds, but the energy is moderate to strong (789 to 1998). The issue is it’s all marginal – the waves are just too small to get excited about. The 2.1m (7ft) pulse on the 2nd was the only time it pushed over 1.5m (5ft), but with short period and poor wind, it’s not worth the paddle.

The last day, Saturday, August 8th, has a 1.7m (6ft) S swell, 14-second period, 1298 energy, but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h (19 mph) cross-off. It’ll be clean but a bit blown out.

So the honest truth: Dondra is inconsistent, and this forecast shows it. There’s nothing that’s going to make you cancel your plans. The best of a very average bunch is Friday 31st July afternoon – that 1.1m (4ft) SSW groundswell with clean conditions and strong energy is the only moment that might give you a couple of decent waves. For the rest, it’s small, clean, and frustrating. If you’re a beginner, it’s fine – nothing over 1.5m (5ft) except that one morning. If you’re experienced, you’ll be waiting for a proper swell. It’s a dry spell, but forecasts change.

Rusty.

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