Dumbea Rights Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got one spot to look at for the next couple of weeks: Dumbea Rights. The water’s sitting at a very pleasant 74°, which is just about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The first few days are a bit of a slow burn with small, clean waves, but there’s a real ripper shaping up for Sunday afternoon that’s worth keeping an eye on.

Thursday the 16th sees the first surfable waves of the period. A 5 ft SSW swell with a 14-second period rolls in, and with a light cross-off NNW breeze at 6 mph, conditions are clean and inviting. The combined energy is solid at 997 (moderate). It’s not a standout, but a nice way to ease in.

Friday the 17th starts with a total glass-off in the morning – zero wind and a clean 3 ft SSW swell. The period drops to 12 seconds, still plenty of shape, and the energy is a moderate 523. A perfect session for a longboard or a funboard. The afternoon sees the swell shift a bit to 4 ft from the ESE with a shorter 8-second period, and a light 3 mph cross-shore breeze keeps things tidy, though it’s a little less exciting.

Saturday the 18th has a fun morning with a 4 ft SSW swell and a super long 17-second period, giving it proper groundswell grunt. The combined energy jumps to 1324 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-onshore from the WSW at 3 mph, so it’s a bit bumpy, but the power is there. The afternoon cleans up nicely: 5 ft SSW groundswell, cross-off SE breeze, and the energy climbs to 1813. That’s a proper session for a keen intermediate.

Now, here’s the standout. Sunday the 19th, afternoon session. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the ESE with a 15-second period. The combined energy is a massive 5806 (very strong). The wind is offshore from the NE at 12 mph, giving you clean, hollow waves. This is expert territory – way too big for beginners, and even strong surfers need to be on their game. This is the one to point the car at. Expect some crowd from the “sometimes” tag, but for waves like these, it’s worth the company.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st see the swell drop back to 4–5 ft from the SSW, but the wind cranks up from the ESE at 16–25 mph. The energy stays moderate, but it’s a tough paddle into a stiff side-shore breeze. The waves are there and clean, but it’s work.

From Wednesday the 22nd through to Thursday the 24th, the swell hangs in at 2–8 ft, but the wind is howling from the ESE at 19–25 mph for most of it, making it messy or just poor. Not worth getting wet for.

Friday the 24th brings a bit of relief in the morning – a glassy 3 ft SSW swell with a 13-second period and a light SSE breeze. Only 277 energy (weak), but the glassy surface makes it a cruisy little session. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off, though still small.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are a write-off. Onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and the swell tries to build but it’s blown out. Not for us.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are mostly poor to marginal. The wind eases a bit on Tuesday the 28th to a moderate 12 mph cross-off, with a 5 ft SSW swell and 10-second period, offering a clean but average wave.

The last real highlight is on Wednesday the 29th. A 4 ft SSW groundswell with a very long 19-second period, combined energy of 1985 (moderate), and a light cross-shore breeze. The period is so long it might break a bit straight at the beach, but on this reef break, it should line up beautifully. Then Thursday the 30th morning delivers a glassy 5 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and 1558 energy (moderate). Perfect, clean conditions for experienced surfers. That’s your second standout – a solid session with no wind hassle.

Friday the 31st is a bit of a fallback. A 5–7 ft SSW swell but with onshore and cross-shore winds and some rain. The energy is there (1593 to 2268), but the quality drops off.

So, to be honest, the whole window is a bit of a mixed bag, but the clear winners are Sunday the 19th afternoon and Thursday the 30th morning. If you’re an expert, do not miss that Sunday. For everyone else, that Thursday glass-off is your best bet for a fun, clean session without the crowd or the size.

Rusty.

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