Air Cina
IntermediateSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 11s SW | 10 km/h off | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 13s SW | 11 km/h cross | 1.0m |
| 12 PM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 13s SW | 21 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 3 PM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 13s SW | 25 km/h cross | -0.3m |
| 6 PM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 13s SW | 17 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 13s SW | 8 km/h off | 0.3m |
| 9 AM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 13s SW | 9 km/h cross | 1.2m |
| 12 PM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 13s WSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| 3 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 12s SW | 8 km/h on | -0.4m |
| 6 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 12s SW | 5 km/h on | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 12s SW | 6 km/h off | -0.2m |
| 9 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 12s SW | 2 km/h on | 1.3m |
| 12 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 12s SW | 14 km/h on | 0.9m |
| 3 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 12s SW | 13 km/h cross | -0.5m |
| 6 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 11s SW | 14 km/h cross | 0.2m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 11s SW | 7 km/h off | -0.6m |
| 9 AM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 10s SW | 10 km/h cross | 1.1m |
| 12 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 10s SW | 19 km/h cross | 1.2m |
| 3 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 10s SW | 18 km/h cross | -0.3m |
| 6 PM | 0.4 m | 0.4m 10s SW | 14 km/h cross | -0.1m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 0.5m | 0.2m SW | 9s | 18 ESE cross | 0.4m |
| 1 AM | 0.6m | 0.2m SW | 8s | 16 ESE off | 0.1m |
| 2 AM | 0.6m | 0.2m SW | 8s | 15 ESE off | -0.1m |
| 3 AM | 0.5m | 0.2m SW | 9s | 14 ESE off | -0.1m |
| 4 AM | 0.5m | 0.2m SW | 10s | 12 ESE off | -0.0m |
| 5 AM | 0.5m | 0.2m SW | 11s | 10 E off | 0.2m |
| 6 AM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 11s | 10 E off | 0.5m |
| 7 AM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 12s | 10 ESE off | 0.8m |
| 8 AM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 10 ESE cross | 1.0m |
| 9 AM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 11 SE cross | 1.0m |
| 10 AM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 15 SSE cross | 0.9m |
| 11 AM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 18 SSE cross | 0.6m |
| 12 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 21 SSE cross | 0.3m |
| 1 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 24 SSE cross | -0.1m |
| 2 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 26 SE cross | -0.3m |
| 3 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 25 SE cross | -0.3m |
| 4 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 23 SE cross | -0.1m |
| 5 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 21 SE cross | 0.2m |
| 6 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 17 ESE cross | 0.6m |
| 7 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 13 ESE cross | 1.0m |
| 8 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 12 ESE cross | 1.3m |
| 9 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 13 SE cross | 1.4m |
| 10 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 13 SE cross | 1.3m |
| 11 PM | 0.5m | 0.3m SW | 13s | 14 ESE cross | 1.0m |
About Air Cina
Air Cina is a fun intermediate reef break on Timor that offers a more relaxed introduction to the island's surf. The wave has enough punch to keep things interesting while remaining approachable for surfers still sharpening their reef skills. Its relative accessibility makes it a good warm-up spot before tackling Timor's more demanding breaks.
Local knowledge
The reef is shallow at low tide and sharp enough to do real damage on a wipeout — booties are worth considering, especially for beginners to reef breaks. Sea urchins lurk in the shallower sections near the entry and exit, so take your time picking your line in and out. A moderate rip runs along the reef on bigger swells; use it to paddle out rather than fight it, but stay aware of where it pushes you.
Air Cina is reachable by road from Kupang — head east along the north coast and look for the break near the village of the same name; a handful of local warungs near the shoreline make it easy to orient yourself. Park at the roadside and pick your way down the rocky shoreline to the channel entry point, which keeps you off the worst of the reef on the way out. Exit via the same channel; avoid scrambling straight over the reef flat when the tide is dropping.
A versatile shortboard or a mid-length funboard in the 7'0"–7'6" range suits most conditions here and gives you enough paddle power for the reef's sometimes inconsistent sets. On small, gutless days bring a fish or a hybrid to keep the fun going; if a solid swell pushes through, step up to a slightly thicker, performance shortboard for extra hold on the reef sections.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Air Cina vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cina this spot | 0.5m | 0.2m 9s | 18 cross | Poor–Fair |
| 8 km away | 0.6m | 0.3m 8s | 21 off | Poor |
| Teddy's Best now 9 km away | 0.6m | 0.4m 8s | 13 cross | Fair |
| 10 km away | 0.5m | 0.3m 9s | 12 off | Fair |
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Surfing in Timor
Full Timor surf guide →Timor sits at the far southeastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), sharing the island with the independent nation of Timor-Leste. For surfers, it's the gritty, frontier alternative to Bali's polish — a place where you trade comfort and crowds for empty line-ups, raw landscapes and genuine exploration.
✈️Getting there
The gateway is Kupang's El Tari Airport (KOE), with regular domestic flights from Bali (Denpasar) — around 1.5 hours — and connections via Jakarta, Surabaya and Labuan Bajo. Some smaller carriers link Kupang to the outer islands.
🛵Getting around
On Timor itself, scooter and motorbike rental is the most flexible way to reach spots like Tablolong, Oetune and Kolbano — though Kolbano is a serious drive (several hours east of Kupang). Cars with a driver are widely available in Kupang and worth it for longer hauls or if you're hauling boards and gear.
🌤️Climate & season
Timor has one of the most pronounced dry seasons in Indonesia, sitting in a rain-shadowed, savanna-like corner of NTT. The dry season runs roughly May to October — and this is also prime surf time, when consistent southeast trade winds groom the swells and rainfall is minimal.