Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the line for Dondra. It’s a reef break, and it’s one of those spots that doesn’t fire all the time, so we’ve got to be patient.

The first solid calls are a bit of a slow burn. The water temp is sittin’ around 82°F right now, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no worries on that front.

Wednesday the 22nd, we’ve got a bit of swell on the way. Morning sees a 4ft swell from the south, with a period of 13 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell, good energy. Combined energy is moderate (653). The wind is cross-shore though, so it’s gonna be a bit choppy. The afternoon session cleans up nicely with a cross-off breeze, making it clean. The swell holds at 4ft, still from the south. It’s a marginal call, but the afternoon is the pick of the day.

Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th are pretty flat and poor. The swell drops off, and the wind just isn’t workin’ for us. We’re talkin’ poor surf conditions, so I’d give those days a miss.

Saturday the 25th shows a little more promise. The afternoon sees a 5ft swell from the SSE, period of 10 seconds, and the wind turns cross-off, so the face will be clean. Combined energy is moderate (699). It’s still a marginal call, but that’s the best we’ve got for the weekend.

We’ve got a bit of a dry spell from Sunday the 26th through to Tuesday the 29th. The swell is there, around 3ft to 5ft, but the conditions are just so-so. The wind is mostly cross-off, which is good for the surface, but the energy is moderate and the surf quality is just marginal. Tuesday the 28th has a risk of thunderstorms, which could mess with the wind.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 30th of July, the morning has a 3ft swell from the SSW, but the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. Combined energy is strong (993). The wind is cross-off, so clean. This is a long-range call, so it’s promising but not set in stone. That long period will mean long lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will be powerful and well-shaped. For a reef like Dondra, this is the kind of swell that gets the blood pumpin’.

But the real standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is the start of August. Monday the 3rd of August, the morning shows a 3ft swell from the SSW, but the period is a whopping 21 seconds. The combined energy is very strong (1532). That afternoon, the swell picks up to 4ft, still from the SSW, with a 20-second period, and the energy jumps to 1730. This is a massive, long-period groundswell. The wind is cross-off and clean. This is the kind of day where Dondra can really turn on. It’s a week and a half out, so don’t book the plane ticket yet, but it’s a serious looker.

Then Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th of August, the swell size bumps up to 6ft and then 7ft, with periods of 17-18 seconds. The energy is way up there, over 2200 and 2700 respectively. That’s strong to very strong energy. The wind stays cross-off, so the surface will be clean. At 7ft, this is getting into the territory where it’s better for experienced surfers. The swell direction is solidly from the SSW, which is the optimum direction for this break.

Thursday the 6th of August, the swell holds at 7ft to 8ft from the south, with a 16-second period. Again, very strong energy (2650). The wind is cross-off. This is a long stretch of quality, powerful swell.

So, the call is this: The first week is a bit of a grind, with the best bet being the afternoon of Wednesday the 22nd. The second week, specifically from Monday the 3rd of August through Thursday the 6th, is where the magic is. That long-period SSW groundswell with clean cross-off winds is the standout. The 3rd of August, with that 21-second period, is the one to watch, but the whole run from the 3rd to the 6th is firing. Just be aware, at 7ft and above, it’s not a beginner’s wave.

Rusty out.

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