Shipwrecks (Nusa Lembongan) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. We’re looking at the next few weeks at Shipwrecks on Nusa Lembongan, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag with some real gems hidden in there.

Right now, the water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year. The pattern is a slow build towards a couple of absolute bangers later on.

We’re starting off on Monday the 7th with a bit of a messy one. The swell is a solid 6ft from the SSW, but the wind is a cross-off from the SE at 12 mph, which keeps it clean but not glassy. The wave energy is strong (1441), but the forecast is calling it marginal, so don’t expect perfection. It’s a 6ft wave, so beginners might find it a bit much.

Tuesday the 8th holds the same story with rain showers around in the morning. The swell hangs around 5ft to 7ft, but that long period of 18 seconds in the afternoon is a real tease. That’s a proper groundswell, and at a reef break like Shipwrecks, it’ll be powerful and lined up, but that cross-off wind keeps it from being a true standout.

Wednesday the 9th is where things start to get interesting. The swell jumps up to 8ft from the SSW with a period of 16 seconds. The wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-off, and the wave energy is pumping (2801). The forecast is shouting “excellent” for experienced surfers. This is proper size, over 8ft, so it’s experts-only territory. The sets will be big and packing a punch.

Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th ease off a touch into the 6ft range, but the wind quality improves. Friday morning in particular sees a nice offshore wind from the SE, creating that “gentle offshore and clean” condition. The energy is still strong (1486), and the waves will be clean and well-shaped. This is a solid window for the competent surfer who wants quality without the extreme size.

The weekend of the 12th and 13th sees the swell dip a little, but the offshore winds stick around. Saturday morning has a moderate offshore wind and 4ft swell, which is more manageable. The energy drops a bit (1285), but it’s clean.

Now, the real stunner on the horizon is Sunday the 20th of September. That’s the one you want to circle. The swell pulses back up to 8ft from the SSW with a 16-second period and a massive energy reading of 2928. The wind is a light 6 mph cross-off, which is almost glassy. The forecast is straight-up “excellent for experienced surfers.” This is a big, powerful, clean swell at a consistent reef break. It’s going to be a session you remember. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so it might get a bit of company, but for that quality, it’s worth it.

The week after that, the 21st and 22nd, the swell slowly drops back down to 4ft to 7ft, with light winds, so there’s still surf to be had, but the fire is gone after that Sunday.

For the best of the best, your absolute standout is Sunday the 20th of September. Big 8ft SSW swell, very light 6 mph wind, and a reef that loves that direction. The energy is through the roof. If you can only paddle out once, that’s your window.

-Rusty

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