Waves
World Class Surf
Between April and October the Mentawai Islands are considered to be one of the most consistent surfing destinations on the planet.
While a few massive swells of ten foot plus hit the islands each season the truth is that the waves are more likely to be in the three to six foot range.
We surf the waves between Scarecrows through to the north side of Awera Island. There are over 15 high quality waves in this region including the world class Telescopes, Iceland and Scarecrows. All of these waves are reached in less than 30 minutes by boat from the lodge. This region is quieter than many of the others in Mentawai; we still get to surf many waves alone.
Our guide is the longest serving in our region; he has the equivalent of over 50 boat trip spent guiding entirely in this area. His understanding of tides, swell direction, size and wind specifically in our area will give you the best chance of scoring the waves you are after.
There are many other waves that work on different tides, wind and swell directions but we try not to publicise them too much, this is one of the reasons we are able to get our guests surf alone as much as we do.
Above is a map of the area with some of the more known breaks, our guide will be able to show you these as well as some of the lesser known spots and get you to the spot that is best suited to your surfing level and the conditions.
Some of the waves we surf
Telescopes
This wave needs no introduction. It is regularly voted as one of the best waves in the world. A flat bottom creates a relatively safe wave. It is superfun at 2 foot and it just gets better and straighter the bigger it gets.
Scarecrows
Another left with long workable walls and an inside section that throws out a perfect barrel on its day. It is usually a little bigger than Telescopes but also a little more exposed to local wind swells.
Tikus
It needs a bit of swell to work but when it is on it offers small barrels and a fast rampy end section. Probably one of the funnest waves around
Icelands
This swell magnet turns from a short fun wave offering both lefts and rights at 2 to 3 foot to one of the heaviest and most photogenic waves in the Mentawai Islands when it gets bigger.
Ombak tidur
Again like Iceland it can be surfed small but turns into a completely different wave when its bigger. This is the most consistent right in the region and has multiple take off spots and sections to keep the rare crowds spread out.
Out the Front
This the end section of a long reef that runs about 500m in towards the camp.
Other Activities
In the rare times that the surf goes completely flat there are a few other things to do at Awera, here is a list of some of the more popular options.
Spearfishing
Experienced spearfishers will not be bored with the area around Awera. From the reef edges off Icelands out to the islands of "Batu Tonga", otherwise known as Jurassic Park there are many G.T's, Tuna and SpanishMakerel.
Fishing
Whether you are trawling along the edge of the reefs for big pelagics or searching the shallows for the worlds' most sought after fly species, the bonefish Awera has plenty of options. Although we have some basic equipment out on the islands if you are a serious angler we recommend you bring your own gear.
Snorkeling
On small surf days the reef right out the front has some of the most beautiful corals in the region, there are also a few large rock bommies around the island that offer some interesting walls. Just like fishing gear we have a bit of snorkeling equiptment but encourage guests to bring their own.
Other things
We also have a range of board games, books and a small TV if you want to watch a DVD or a video of the days surfing or maybe just take a bit of time out and explore Awera's white sand beaches.
