Tongo Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate. Rusty here.

We’ve got just the one spot firing over the next couple of weeks, and it’s a real deep-water reef. The outlook kicks off with some serious early-week energy, then it settles right down, before a big pulse of swell shows up late in the second week. Don’t expect any easy waves for the learners—this is a spot for the experienced crew, with the swell size and the reef itself making it a no-go for beginners.

We start on Monday, July 6th. The ocean is pumping with a solid 6ft SSW groundswell—long period at 18 seconds—pushing in from the deep south. The wave energy is cranking (2137), but the wind is gentle offshore from the SE, keeping the surface glassy and clean. This is the standout of the whole period: clean, powerful lines wrapping in. It’s advanced only, and with the optimum direction hitting from the south, this reef is going to be an absolute juice train. The water is already much warmer than normal at 79°, around 8° above average for this time of year, which is very unusual and will make the morning session feel tropical.

That Monday afternoon the wind stays cross-offshore, a bit stronger at 12 mph, and the surf holds at 6ft, but the call is a bit marginal due to tide. Tuesday the 7th and Wednesday the 8th see the swell ease a touch, dropping from 5ft to 4ft. The wind is cross-offshore and moderate, so the wave shape stays okay but the juice is dropping (1586 down to 997). By Thursday the 9th it’s down to 4 – 4ft, and pretty weak (834 energy). For a deep reef, that’s a bit too small for a proper session, but there’s still a wave.

Friday the 10th sees a little bump back up to 5ft SSW with 16 seconds, cracking 1187 energy, but it’s in that marginal zone on the scorecard. The wind is a steady cross-offshore, so it’s not sloppy. But it’s not the stand-out, either. From Saturday the 11th through to Thursday the 16th of July, it’s a slow grind of waist-to-chest high waves. Heights hover around 3ft to 4ft, with energy falling from 717 down to 273. The wind stays cross-offshore, but honestly, it’s just not got enough power for Tongo Reef to show its teeth. There is a notable day on Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th with lighter winds (6 mph), and the forecast says "very good surf conditions," but with only 4ft and 3ft of swell, don’t expect much push.

Then things get interesting again. On Saturday the 18th of July, a new pulse of south swell arrives, jumping to 5ft early then 7ft in the afternoon, and the period is a very long 20 seconds. The energy skyrockets to 3859, which is serious power. The wind is cross-offshore from the SE at 12 mph, so it’s clean but on the bigger side. Remember, over 8ft is only for experts, and this swell is heading that way. By Sunday the 19th, it’s building to 8ft in the morning with 17-second period (3097 energy), and the wind is still manageable at 12 mph cross-offshore. This is the second standout window of the forecast, but it’s deep into the second week so treat it as promising but less certain. That size and period at Tongo Reef will be a very heavy, fast wave, strictly for the experienced crew.

The swell then fades Monday the 20th (6ft) and Tuesday the 21st (4 – 4ft), and the wind holds cross-offshore. The energy drops back to 572-661, and it tapers off to nothing special.

So, the two true windows here are Monday July 6th morning and the weekend of July 18th-19th. For the rest, it’s a waiting game or a light board session.

Rusty, signing off.

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