Sawarna surf

Sawarna

Intermediate
Reef break · Moderate · Best: May–October · All tides
Working best in Java now Cimaja Epic · 0.9m @ 12s View →
Conditions right now
Good
Wave
1.5m
Swell
1.3m
6s · SSE
Period
6s
Wind
2 km/h
NNE · gust 6
Offshore
Water
26°C
Air
22°C

Surf report

Tide falling · Low 1:00 PM -0.2m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 1.5 m
1.3m 6s SSE
2 km/h off
0.7m
9 AM 1.5 m
1.3m 6s SSE
6 km/h on
0.3m
12 PM 1.5 m
1.2m 6s SSE
9 km/h on
-0.2m
3 PM 1.5 m
1.1m 7s SSE
14 km/h on
-0.2m
6 PM 1.5 m
1.1m 6s SSE
5 km/h on
0.2m
Best session today
6 AM–8 AM
Cross-shore 1.3m swell @ 6s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 1.0 2.0 6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM12 AM3 AM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 20 40 6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM12 AM3 AM

Tide

Low 1:00 PM · -0.2m High 7:00 PM · 0.3m Low 12:00 AM · 0.0m High 7:00 AM · 0.7m
L 1 PM H 7 PM L 12 AM H 7 AM L 2 PM H 8 PM L 1 AM 6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM

7-day outlook

Best days
Tue, Jul 28
1.5–1.7m
Wed, Jul 29
1.5–1.8m
Thu, Jul 30
1.7–1.8m
Fri, Jul 31 Best
1.6–1.8m
Sat, Aug 1
1.6–1.8m
Sun, Aug 2
1.7–1.9m
Mon, Aug 3
1.8–1.9m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
6 AM 1.5m 1.3m SSE 6s 2 NNE off 0.7m
7 AM 1.5m 1.3m SSE 6s 5 NE cross 0.6m
8 AM 1.5m 1.3m SSE 6s 6 ENE cross 0.5m
9 AM 1.5m 1.3m SSE 6s 6 ESE on 0.3m
10 AM 1.5m 1.3m SSE 6s 5 S on 0.1m
11 AM 1.5m 1.2m SSE 6s 8 SSW on -0.0m
12 PM 1.5m 1.2m SSE 6s 9 SW on -0.2m
1 PM 1.5m 1.2m SSE 6s 7 SW cross -0.2m
2 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 10 SSW on -0.2m
3 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 7s 14 SSW on -0.2m
4 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 7s 16 SSW on -0.0m
5 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 11 S on 0.1m
6 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 5 S on 0.2m
7 PM 1.5m 1.2m SSE 6s 1 NE cross 0.3m
8 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 2 NNE off 0.3m
9 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 1 NNE off 0.2m
10 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 1 ENE cross 0.1m
11 PM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 1 NE cross 0.0m
12 AM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 2 N off 0.0m
1 AM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 6s 2 NNW off 0.0m
2 AM 1.5m 1.1m SSE 7s 1 N off 0.1m
3 AM 1.5m 1.1m S 8s 3 NNE off 0.2m
4 AM 1.5m 1.1m S 10s 2 NE cross 0.4m
5 AM 1.5m 1.1m S 11s 3 ENE cross 0.6m

About Sawarna

Sawarna is a scenic reef break on West Java's remote south coast, offering fun, well-shaped waves for intermediate surfers willing to make the journey. The relative isolation keeps the lineup uncrowded, and the surrounding beaches and jungle add to the adventure of the trip. Waves range from playful to punchy depending on swell size, with both lefts and rights on offer across the break. It's a rewarding destination that combines quality surf with an off-the-beaten-path feel.

Local knowledge

Hazards

The reef is shallow and sharp at low tide — a wipeout in the wrong section can mean a nasty coral scrape, so booties are worth considering. Sea urchins lurk in the reef cracks around the entry and exit zone, and the south coast shore break can be deceptively powerful; rip currents form along the reef's edges during bigger swells and need to be read carefully before paddling out.

Getting there

Sawarna sits roughly 60 km south of Rangkasbitung in Banten province — the final stretch is a winding, sometimes rough road through jungle villages, so a motorbike or 4WD is strongly recommended. Park near the Sawarna village bridge (Jembatan Gantung), cross the rope suspension bridge on foot, then follow the coastal trail past Tanjung Layar rock formations to reach the break. Paddle out from the sandy channel on the reef's north side to avoid the sharper coral sections on entry.

Board

A versatile shortboard or mid-length (6'4"–7'0") covers most conditions here — something with a bit of volume handles the punchy, sometimes unpredictable take-offs well. Step up to a performance shortboard with a thruster setup when solid south swells push the waves overhead and hollower; on smaller, softer days a fish or hybrid will unlock the most fun out of the playful sections.

Localism

mellow — relaxed vibe.

Where to go now

Sawarna vs. nearby, live
Spot Surf Swell Wind Now
Sawarna
this spot
1.5m
1.3m 6s
2 off
Good
Cisolok Best now
17 km away
0.9m
0.7m 12s
4 off
Epic
19 km away
0.9m
0.7m 12s
4 off
Epic
19 km away
0.9m
0.7m 12s
4 off
Epic

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Karang Aji Surf Lesson & Guide

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Sunset Beach AWS Surf School, Surf Lesson and ATV

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Surfing in Java

Full Java surf guide →

Java is Indonesia's most populous and culturally dense island, yet for surfers it remains one of the archipelago's great escapes. Overshadowed by Bali to the east and the Mentawai boats to the west, Java's long, exposed south coast quietly serves up world-class waves with a fraction of the crowds.

✈️Getting there

Most international surfers fly into Bali (Denpasar/DPS) or Jakarta (CGK). For G-Land, the classic route is from Bali: drive west to Gilimanuk, take the short ferry across to Ketapang/Banyuwangi in East Java, then continue overland and by boat into Alas Purwo National Park. Many surfers simply book a transfer or surf-camp package from Bali, which can run as a long road-and-ferry day or a faster speedboat charter across the strait.

🛵Getting around

Java is huge and its south-coast surf zones are spread far apart, so there's no single hub. Scooters are cheap and easy to rent in beach towns like Batu Karas and Pangandaran and are perfect for short hops to local breaks — but Javanese traffic and long-haul roads can be intense for the inexperienced.

🌤️Climate & season

Java has a tropical climate with two clear seasons. The dry season runs roughly May to September and is prime surf time — consistent Indian Ocean groundswell, lighter and more favourable winds, and the cleaner conditions that make G-Land fire. This is when the south coast is at its best.