Shipwrecks (Nusa Lembongan) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Shipwrecks (Nusa Lembongan), with a real standout early in the period. This is a sheltered reef break that needs a decent SSW groundswell and offshore winds to turn on, and for the first few days, it’s got both. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

The action kicks off Wednesday the 19th with a cracking 7 ft SSW groundswell rolling in at a very long 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell with heaps of energy (2629) and glassy morning conditions under a light offshore from the E at 6 mph. This is prime for experienced surfers only – it’s a powerful wave. The wind stays offshore through the arvo, picking up to 12 mph from the ESE, but it’s still clean. Thursday the 20th keeps the quality high: 7 ft SSW at 16 seconds in the morning, gentle offshore breeze, energy at 2715 – this is the best on offer, a true standout. The afternoon gets a bit breezier, but still clean.

Friday the 21st is another cracker: the morning swell drops a touch to 4 ft, but the period is back to 18 seconds with clean offshore wind from the SE at 12 mph. The arvo sees the swell jump to 7 ft at 17 seconds, energy at 2579, still offshore – excellent for those who can handle it. Saturday the 22nd still has good waves: 6 ft SSW in the morning with a moderate offshore, but by the afternoon the wind swings cross-offshore and the quality drops – still clean, but not as good.

From Sunday the 23rd into the following week, the swell stays in the 3 ft to 6 ft range with decent period (15–19 seconds), but the winds become more cross-offshore at times, and the energy dips into the mid-range (900–1800). The mornings are often cleaner with true offshore winds, so early sessions are the go. Monday the 24th morning is a good example: 6 ft SSW, 16 seconds, offshore SE at 16 mph – clean and punchy for advanced surfers.

Through the second week, from around Wednesday the 26th onward, the swell gradually drops to around 3–5 ft, with periods holding between 14 and 20 seconds. The energy gets weaker (700–1100) and the winds are often cross-off, but you still get clean conditions. Friday the 28th stages a small comeback: 7 ft SSW in the morning with a gentle offshore – a brief return to solid surf before it fades again. Into the first days of September, the swell stays around 4–5 ft with moderate periods and mostly clean conditions.

Crowds at Shipwrecks are *sometimes* an issue, so you might have company on the standouts, but it’s a reef that can handle a few people.

Best bet: Thursday the 20th morning – that 7 ft SSW groundswell with long period and glassy offshore wind is about as good as it gets around here for experienced crews.

Rusty.

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