Telescopes
IntermediateSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.2 m | 1.0m 11s S | 8 km/h off | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 11s S | 6 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 12 PM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 10s S | 9 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.1 m | 1.0m 11s SSW | 6 km/h off | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.2 m | 1.0m 11s SSW | 3 km/h off | 0.3m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.4 m | 1.2m 13s SSW | 3 km/h on | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.5 m | 1.4m 13s SSW | 6 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.5 m | 1.5m 13s SSW | 5 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.5 m | 1.4m 13s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.6 m | 1.4m 12s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.6 m | 1.5m 12s SSW | 4 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 9 AM | 1.6 m | 1.5m 12s SSW | 6 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.5 m | 1.5m 12s SSW | 4 km/h off | 0.5m |
| 3 PM | 1.5 m | 1.5m 12s SSW | 3 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.5 m | 1.5m 12s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 11s SSW | 8 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 11s SSW | 1 km/h on | 0.3m |
| 3 PM | 1.2 m | 1.1m 11s SSW | 2 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.2 m | 1.0m 11s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.6m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 AM | 1.2m | 1.0m S | 11s | 9 NW off | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 11s | 6 WNW cross | 0.5m |
| 10 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 10s | 8 NW off | 0.6m |
| 11 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 10s | 7 NW cross | 0.7m |
| 12 PM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 10s | 9 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 1 PM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 10s | 6 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 2 PM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 11s | 5 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.1m | 1.0m SSW | 11s | 6 NW off | 0.6m |
| 4 PM | 1.1m | 1.0m SSW | 12s | 4 NW off | 0.5m |
| 5 PM | 1.1m | 1.0m SSW | 11s | 2 NNW off | 0.4m |
| 6 PM | 1.2m | 1.0m SSW | 11s | 3 NNE off | 0.3m |
| 7 PM | 1.2m | 1.0m SSW | 11s | 4 NE off | 0.3m |
| 8 PM | 1.2m | 1.0m SSW | 12s | 4 NE off | 0.3m |
| 9 PM | 1.2m | 0.9m SSW | 13s | 4 ENE off | 0.4m |
| 10 PM | 1.2m | 0.9m SSW | 13s | 3 E cross | 0.5m |
| 11 PM | 1.2m | 1.0m SSW | 13s | 3 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 12 AM | 1.2m | 1.0m SSW | 13s | 3 ESE cross | 0.8m |
| 1 AM | 1.3m | 1.0m SSW | 13s | 2 SE on | 0.9m |
| 2 AM | 1.3m | 1.1m SSW | 13s | 2 SSE on | 0.9m |
| 3 AM | 1.3m | 1.1m SSW | 13s | 2 SSE on | 0.9m |
| 4 AM | 1.3m | 1.2m SSW | 13s | 3 SSE on | 0.8m |
| 5 AM | 1.4m | 1.2m SSW | 13s | 4 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 6 AM | 1.4m | 1.2m SSW | 13s | 3 SE on | 0.5m |
| 7 AM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 13s | 6 ESE cross | 0.4m |
About Telescopes
Telescopes is a playful and versatile reef break in the Mentawais that delivers fun, peeling waves across a range of swell sizes, making it a favourite among intermediate surfers. The wave offers workable walls with forgiving sections, ideal for practising turns and building confidence on reef. It can throw up the occasional hollow section when conditions are right, hinting at the power lurking beneath. A welcoming spot in the lineup that still carries that unmistakable Mentawai quality.
Local knowledge
The reef at Telescopes is shallow at low tide and lined with sharp, live coral — a wipeout on an inside section can result in serious lacerations, and sea urchins lurk in the cracks. A moderate rip runs along the reef's edge that can drag you toward the channel, so know where the current is pulling before paddling out. Boat traffic from charter vessels and day-trip speedboats is a constant in the Mentawais — always check for moving boats when paddling out or kicking off the back of a wave.
Telescopes is a boat-access-only break — you'll reach it via liveaboard or day-charter speedboat out of Padang, Sumatra, typically as part of a broader Mentawai surf trip itinerary. Anchoring or mooring offshore, you paddle the short distance to the lineup; the channel on the northern end of the reef offers the clearest path in and a safer exit point after your session. There are no land facilities at the break itself — all food, water and gear live on your vessel.
A versatile shortboard in the 6'0"–6'4" range covers most conditions here — enough foam to catch the playful, peeling walls but manoeuvrable enough to work the punchy sections when it gets hollow. On smaller, mushier days a fish or mid-length will maximise your wave count; if a solid swell pushes through, step up to a slightly thicker, performance shape with more rocker to handle the added speed and power.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Telescopes vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telescopes this spot | 1.2m | 1.0m 11s | 9 off | Good |
| Ombak Tidur Best now 3 km away | 1.2m | 1.0m 11s | 9 off | Epic |
| 6 km away | 1.2m | 1.0m 11s | 9 off | Epic |
| 9 km away | 1.3m | 1.1m 11s | 9 off | Epic |
Community photos
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Surfing in Mentawai
Full Mentawai surf guide →If there's one name that makes surfers go quiet and start saving, it's the Mentawai. This remote archipelago of more than 70 islands sits off the west coast of Sumatra, fully exposed to raw Indian Ocean swell, and it has earned its reputation as one of the most concentrated, high-quality wave zones on Earth.
✈️Getting there
All routes run through Padang, the port city in West Sumatra. Fly into Padang's Minangkabau International Airport (PDG), usually via Jakarta, or via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore on regional carriers.
🛵Getting around
The Mentawai are about boats, not roads. Once you arrive, your daily transport to the waves is by boat — either the liveaboard itself or the resort's tenders and speedboats running surfers out to the breaks.
🌤️Climate & season
The Mentawai are equatorial, hot and humid year-round, with water warm enough for boardshorts or a thin top (roughly 27–29°C). There's no real winter — just wetter and drier patterns.