Ndao Island surf

Ndao Island

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Reef break · Moderate · Best: May–October · All tides
Working best in Rote now T-Land / Boa Fair · 1.2m @ 10s View →
Conditions right now
Fair
Wave
1.2m
Swell
1.2m
10s · SW
Period
10s
Wind
19 km/h
SE · gust 25
Cross-shore
Water
27°C
Air
26°C

Surf report

Tide rising · High 7:00 AM 1.2m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 1.3 m
1.3m 10s SW
15 km/h cross
1.1m
9 AM 1.4 m
1.3m 10s SW
11 km/h cross
1.0m
12 PM 1.4 m
1.4m 10s SW
25 km/h on
0.0m
3 PM 1.5 m
1.4m 9s SW
24 km/h on
-0.5m
6 PM 1.5 m
1.4m 9s SW
21 km/h cross
0.3m
Best session today
6 AM–8 AM
Cross-shore 1.3m swell @ 10s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 1.0 2.0 1 AM4 AM7 AM10 AM1 PM4 PM7 PM10 PM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 20 40 1 AM4 AM7 AM10 AM1 PM4 PM7 PM10 PM

Tide

High 7:00 AM · 1.2m Low 3:00 PM · -0.5m High 9:00 PM · 1.0m Low 3:00 AM · 0.0m
H 7 AM L 3 PM H 9 PM L 3 AM H 9 AM L 3 PM H 10 PM 1 AM7 AM1 PM7 PM1 AM7 AM1 PM7 PM

7-day outlook

Best days
Tue, Sep 8
1.2–1.5m
Wed, Sep 9
1.4–1.5m
Thu, Sep 10
1.3–1.4m
Fri, Sep 11
1.3–1.4m
Sat, Sep 12
1.2–1.4m
Sun, Sep 13 Best
1.3–1.7m
Mon, Sep 14
1.7–1.7m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
1 AM 1.2m 1.2m SW 10s 19 SE cross 0.3m
2 AM 1.2m 1.2m SW 10s 20 SE cross 0.4m
3 AM 1.2m 1.2m SW 10s 19 SE cross 0.5m
4 AM 1.2m 1.2m SW 10s 17 SE cross 0.6m
5 AM 1.3m 1.2m SW 10s 16 SE cross 0.8m
6 AM 1.3m 1.3m SW 10s 15 SE cross 1.1m
7 AM 1.3m 1.3m SW 10s 14 SE cross 1.2m
8 AM 1.3m 1.3m SW 10s 13 SE cross 1.2m
9 AM 1.4m 1.3m SW 10s 11 SE cross 1.0m
10 AM 1.4m 1.4m SW 10s 13 S on 0.8m
11 AM 1.4m 1.4m SW 10s 22 S on 0.4m
12 PM 1.4m 1.4m SW 10s 25 S on 0.0m
1 PM 1.4m 1.4m SW 10s 24 S on -0.3m
2 PM 1.5m 1.4m SW 9s 23 S on -0.5m
3 PM 1.5m 1.4m SW 9s 24 S on -0.5m
4 PM 1.5m 1.4m SW 9s 24 S on -0.4m
5 PM 1.5m 1.4m SW 9s 23 S on -0.1m
6 PM 1.5m 1.4m SW 9s 21 SSE cross 0.3m
7 PM 1.5m 1.4m SW 9s 22 SSE cross 0.6m
8 PM 1.5m 1.4m SW 9s 22 SSE cross 0.9m
9 PM 1.5m 1.3m SW 9s 23 SSE cross 1.0m
10 PM 1.5m 1.3m SW 9s 22 SSE cross 0.9m
11 PM 1.5m 1.3m SW 9s 20 SSE cross 0.8m
12 AM 1.5m 1.3m SW 9s 19 SSE cross 0.5m

About Ndao Island

Ndao Island es un reef break remoto y expuesto frente a Rote que produce olas crudas y poderosas para surfistas avanzados dispuestos a hacer el viaje. El aislamiento garantiza lineups sin aglomeraciones y condiciones vírgenes, pero también significa que estás solo si algo sale mal. Espera swells pesados, arrecife poco profundo y consecuencias serias — es un spot que premia la experiencia y la preparación. La recompensa es surf de clase mundial, sin tocar.

Local knowledge

Hazards

El arrecife de coral vivo, poco profundo y afilado como una navaja, es el principal peligro — las caídas aquí pueden provocar laceraciones graves, por lo que se recomienda firmemente el uso de escarpines de arrecife y casco en los días de mayor swell. La ubicación expuesta atrae swells crudos y sin pulir, con corrientes potentes e impredecibles y fuertes rips a lo largo del borde del arrecife que pueden dificultar la salida; no hay rescate rápido si algo va mal. Los erizos de mar abundan en el borde del arrecife, y la atención médica más cercana está a un largo trayecto en barco y luego en auto dentro de la propia Rote — toma en serio cada lesión y lleva un botiquín de primeros auxilios bien equipado.

Getting there

Ndao es un destino al que solo se llega en barco — tendrás que organizar un charter o una embarcación de pesca local saliendo de Ba'a o Nembrala, en la costa suroeste de Rote, una travesía que normalmente toma entre 1 y 2 horas según las condiciones y que puede ser movida con vientos alisios fuertes. Coordina con un fixer local o un operador de surf en Nembrala con antelación, ya que no existe infraestructura formal para el surf en la propia Ndao. Entra y sal por el canal adyacente al arrecife; ten el barco en espera para el recogida, ya que el acceso a tierra es limitado y el arrecife no es lugar para quedarse varado sin transporte.

Board

Trae un step-up (6'4"–6'10") como tu tabla principal para las condiciones huecas y poderosas del arrecife que Ndao suele ofrecer, y mete una gun (7'0"+) si existe alguna posibilidad de surfearla con un swell significativo. Deja el shortboard como respaldo para los días más pequeños, que son poco frecuentes — esta ola premia el volumen y el drive, no el material suelto y skatey.

Localism

mellow — relaxed vibe.

Where to go now

Ndao Island vs. nearby, live
Spot Surf Swell Wind Now
Ndao Island Best now
this spot
1.2m
1.2m 10s
19 cross
Fair
19 km away
1.2m
1.1m 10s
12 cross
Fair
22 km away
1.2m
1.1m 10s
12 cross
Fair
24 km away
1.2m
1.1m 10s
12 cross
Fair

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Nearest spots

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Surf schools & local guides near Ndao Island

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Nemberala Beach Surf School

Nemberala Beach Surf School

★ 5.0

Rt. 01/Rw. 01 Desa Sedeoen, Nemberala, Rote Barat, Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara 85982, Indonesia

32 Google reviews

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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.