The Bommie
AdvancedSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 12s SW | 18 km/h off | 1.2m |
| 9 AM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 11s SW | 24 km/h off | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.2 m | 0.9m 11s SW | 24 km/h cross | 0.0m |
| 3 PM | 1.2 m | 0.9m 11s SW | 24 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.2 m | 0.8m 11s SW | 23 km/h off | 0.9m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.3 m | 1.0m 13s SW | 24 km/h off | 1.4m |
| 9 AM | 1.5 m | 1.1m 13s SW | 29 km/h off | 0.7m |
| 12 PM | 1.6 m | 1.1m 14s SW | 32 km/h off | -0.2m |
| 3 PM | 1.7 m | 1.2m 14s SW | 30 km/h off | 0.1m |
| 6 PM | 1.7 m | 1.3m 13s SW | 24 km/h off | 0.9m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.7 m | 1.3m 13s SW | 21 km/h off | 1.4m |
| 9 AM | 1.7 m | 1.3m 13s SW | 23 km/h off | 1.1m |
| 12 PM | 1.6 m | 1.3m 12s SW | 25 km/h off | -0.1m |
| 3 PM | 1.6 m | 1.3m 12s SW | 26 km/h off | -0.4m |
| 6 PM | 1.6 m | 1.2m 12s SW | 24 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.4 m | 1.1m 12s SW | 20 km/h cross | 1.4m |
| 9 AM | 1.4 m | 1.1m 12s SW | 22 km/h cross | 1.6m |
| 12 PM | 1.4 m | 1.1m 12s SW | 24 km/h cross | 0.2m |
| 3 PM | 1.3 m | 1.0m 12s SW | 23 km/h cross | -0.8m |
| 6 PM | 1.3 m | 1.0m 12s SW | 22 km/h cross | 0.2m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m SW | 12s | 18 E off | 1.0m |
| 8 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m SW | 12s | 24 ESE off | 0.7m |
| 9 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m SW | 11s | 24 ESE off | 0.4m |
| 10 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m SW | 11s | 24 ESE cross | 0.2m |
| 11 AM | 1.2m | 0.9m SW | 11s | 24 ESE cross | 0.0m |
| 12 PM | 1.2m | 0.9m SW | 11s | 24 ESE cross | 0.0m |
| 1 PM | 1.2m | 0.9m SW | 11s | 24 ESE cross | 0.2m |
| 2 PM | 1.2m | 0.9m SW | 11s | 25 ESE cross | 0.4m |
| 3 PM | 1.2m | 0.9m SW | 11s | 24 ESE cross | 0.6m |
| 4 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 12s | 24 ESE cross | 0.8m |
| 5 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 12s | 23 ESE off | 0.9m |
| 6 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 11s | 23 ESE off | 0.9m |
| 7 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 11s | 22 ESE off | 0.8m |
| 8 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 11s | 23 ESE off | 0.6m |
| 9 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 11s | 23 ESE off | 0.3m |
| 10 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 10s | 22 ESE off | 0.1m |
| 11 PM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 11s | 22 ESE off | 0.0m |
| 12 AM | 1.2m | 0.8m SW | 11s | 22 E off | 0.0m |
| 1 AM | 1.2m | 0.9m SW | 12s | 21 E off | 0.2m |
| 2 AM | 1.2m | 0.9m SW | 13s | 21 E off | 0.5m |
| 3 AM | 1.3m | 0.9m SW | 13s | 19 ESE off | 0.8m |
| 4 AM | 1.3m | 0.9m SW | 13s | 21 E off | 1.1m |
| 5 AM | 1.3m | 1.0m SW | 13s | 23 E off | 1.3m |
| 6 AM | 1.3m | 1.0m SW | 13s | 24 E off | 1.4m |
About The Bommie
The Bommie is a gnarly advanced reef break rising up from deeper water off Rote, producing thick, powerful peaks that can pitch hard on the shallow section. It's not a wave for the faint-hearted — take-offs are steep and the hold-downs over the reef are real. Experienced surfers who time it right are rewarded with raw, powerful barrels. Come prepared physically and mentally.
Local knowledge
The bommie reef is shallow, sharp, and unforgiving — wipeouts on the heavy section can result in serious lacerations or worse, and hold-downs are a genuine risk on bigger swells. Strong lateral currents sweep across the reef, making it hard to hold your position in the lineup and complicating exits; getting sucked onto the dry reef edge is a real danger. Sea urchins colonise the shallower sections of the reef, so booties are strongly advised for any scrambling during entry or exit.
The Bommie is a boat-access-only break — organise a local jukung from the nearby village or your accommodation on Rote's southwest coast; most surf camps in the area run regular boat trips out here. The channel sits to the inside of the peak, and getting in and out of the boat cleanly is the trickiest part of the day, especially if there's any swell running. Have your captain anchor or sit in the channel and do not attempt to paddle in from shore.
Bring a step-up thruster — something in the 6'4"–6'10" range with a bit of extra volume and a pulled-in tail to handle the steep take-off and hold through the powerful barrel section. On rare smaller days a rounded-pin shortboard works fine, but leave your fish and fun shapes at home; this wave punishes the wrong equipment quickly.
moderate — be polite, wait your turn.
Where to go now
The Bommie vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bommie Best now this spot | 1.1m | 0.9m 12s | 18 off | Good |
| 2 km away | 1.1m | 0.9m 12s | 18 off | Good |
| 2 km away | 1.1m | 0.9m 12s | 18 off | Good |
| 2 km away | 1.1m | 0.9m 12s | 18 off | Good |
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Nearest spots
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Nemberala Beach Surf School
★ 5.0Rt. 01/Rw. 01 Desa Sedeoen, Nemberala, Rote Barat, Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara 85982, Indonesia
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Surfing in Rote
Full Rote surf guide →Rote is Indonesia's southernmost inhabited island, a low, dry, sun-bleached slip of land hanging off the bottom of Timor in East Nusa Tenggara. It's about as far from the Bali crowds as you can get and still find world-class surf — which is exactly the point. The scene revolves around the village of Nemberala (Nembrala) on the west coast, where a string of guesthouses, surf camps and warungs line up behind the reef.
✈️Getting there
Reaching Rote is half the adventure. First fly to Kupang (Timor) — El Tari Airport (KOE) — via Bali (Denpasar) or Jakarta, usually with a connection. From Kupang's Bolok harbour you take the fast ferry across to Rote's port at Ba'a, a crossing of roughly 1.5–2 hours; a slower car ferry also runs but takes longer.
🛵Getting around
Once you're in Nemberala, most of the popular waves are close — T-Land, Boa and the beach breaks are within easy reach, and several spots are walkable or a short paddle from the main strip.
🌤️Climate & season
Rote has a pronounced dry, savanna-like climate — drier than Bali and noticeably so. The dry season runs roughly May to October and is the surf season: this is when consistent groundswell arrives and the dependable southeast trade winds groom the west-coast lefts, holding most of the season's offshore conditions.