Shipwrecks (Nusa Lembongan) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.

Right now, this stretch is all about one wave for the next couple weeks: Shipwrecks (Nusa Lembongan). It’s a reef break that takes a southerly to south-southwest direction best, and we’ve got a proper run of swell heading its way. The water temp is sitting at 82°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy but noticeable, like stepping into a warm bath.

The action starts proper on Tuesday the 14th afternoon. The combined swell energy is already pumping with a reading of 2144, that’s strong wave energy. We’re looking at a clean 6 ft SSW groundswell with an 18-second period. That is a very long period, meaning proper groundswell. It’s going to hold up and wrap around well into this reef setup. Keep in mind, with that kind of period, the sets will be wider spaced but the paddle out is easier between them. The wind is a light offshore from the SE at 12 mph, which will keep the faces clean and lined-up. This is the standout of the whole forecast. For experienced surfers only, this is prime.

Wednesday the 15th keeps the quality high. Wednesday morning sees a 6 ft SSW swell, period still long at 16 seconds, and only a light 6 mph offshore breeze. That’s glassy, beautiful conditions. The energy remains very strong at 1692. Wednesday afternoon the wind picks up a bit to 16 mph but stays offshore, still clean. Thursday the 16th continues with clean 5 ft SSW swell, period still 15 seconds, moderate offshore breeze. It’s solid, but the energy drops a notch to 1040.

We do then see a slow easing trend into the weekend. Friday the 17th through Sunday the 19th has dropping swell, 4 ft down to 3 ft, but still with offshore winds. It’s still surfable and clean, just not the muscle of earlier. The energy numbers sit between 600 and 900, moderate. The wind gets a bit fresh at times, 16 to 19 mph, but offshore keeps things tidy.

Just as things are getting small, Monday the 20th brings a second pulse. The swell jumps back up to 6 ft SSW with a 17-second period, and the energy reads a very strong 1881. Winds are a moderate 12 mph SE offshore – another proper day for the advanced crew. Tuesday the 21st sees 5 ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, still good but the wind goes cross-offshore in the afternoon, which puts a bit of a chop on the face.

From Wednesday the 22nd into the following week, there’s a rough patch. Swell drops to 3 ft to 4 ft, and the winds are cross-offshore or just offshore but fresh, from 16 to 19 mph. The energy is moderate to weak. It’s not worth getting excited about until around Saturday the 25th where we see a small uptick to 4 ft SSW with a 15-second period and 1018 energy, but still with that fresh offshore breeze. Not the clean, groomed conditions of earlier.

The very end of the month, around Monday the 28th into Wednesday the 29th, shows a shift. The swell comes from the SE with a period of only 7 seconds – that’s short period windswell, not the long groundswell we started with. The height is around 5 ft to 6 ft, but with that period, it’ll be sectiony and crumbly. Wind is light to moderate offshore on Wednesday morning, so it might be rideable, but it’s not the same quality.

Overall, the best window is Tuesday the 14th through Monday the 20th, with Tuesday the 14th afternoon and Monday the 20th being the absolute top picks. Shipwrecks is a consistent spot, but it’s for advanced surfers only. This is a reef, and with 6 ft+ and long period, you need to know what you’re doing. Crowds are possible, so be wise about peak times.

Stay safe, get those barrels.

- Rusty

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