Savu Island Reefs
AdvancedSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.5 m | 0.9m 6s SSE | 23 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 1.5 m | 0.6m 5s S | 28 km/h on | 1.2m |
| 12 PM | 1.5 m | 0.6m 5s SSE | 27 km/h on | 0.4m |
| 3 PM | 1.5 m | 0.7m 6s SSE | 23 km/h on | -0.5m |
| 6 PM | 1.4 m | 0.7m 5s SSE | 19 km/h on | -0.1m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.3 m | 1.0m 5s SE | 18 km/h on | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.2 m | 0.8m 5s SE | 24 km/h on | 1.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.2 m | 0.6m 6s S | 25 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 3 PM | 1.2 m | 0.4m 10s SW | 24 km/h on | -0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.2 m | 0.5m 8s SSW | 23 km/h on | -0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.2 m | 0.9m 5s SE | 21 km/h on | 0.3m |
| 9 AM | 1.2 m | 0.8m 5s SE | 23 km/h on | 1.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.2 m | 0.7m 5s SE | 22 km/h on | 1.1m |
| 3 PM | 1.1 m | 0.7m 5s SE | 22 km/h on | -0.5m |
| 6 PM | 1.1 m | 0.7m 5s SE | 18 km/h on | -0.6m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.2 m | 0.8m 5s SE | 17 km/h on | 0.0m |
| 9 AM | 1.2 m | 0.9m 5s SE | 21 km/h on | 1.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 5s SE | 22 km/h cross | 1.4m |
| 3 PM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 5s SE | 21 km/h cross | -0.3m |
| 6 PM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 5s SE | 14 km/h cross | -0.8m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 AM | 1.6m | 1.0m SSE | 6s | 24 ESE on | 0.3m |
| 5 AM | 1.5m | 1.1m SSE | 6s | 23 ESE on | 0.5m |
| 6 AM | 1.5m | 0.9m SSE | 6s | 23 ESE on | 0.8m |
| 7 AM | 1.5m | 0.8m S | 5s | 23 ESE cross | 1.0m |
| 8 AM | 1.5m | 0.6m S | 5s | 26 ESE cross | 1.2m |
| 9 AM | 1.5m | 0.6m S | 5s | 28 ESE cross | 1.2m |
| 10 AM | 1.5m | 0.6m SSE | 5s | 28 ESE on | 1.1m |
| 11 AM | 1.5m | 0.6m SSE | 5s | 27 ESE on | 0.8m |
| 12 PM | 1.5m | 0.6m SSE | 5s | 27 ESE on | 0.4m |
| 1 PM | 1.5m | 0.7m SSE | 5s | 25 ESE on | 0.0m |
| 2 PM | 1.5m | 0.7m SSE | 5s | 25 ESE on | -0.3m |
| 3 PM | 1.5m | 0.7m SSE | 6s | 23 ESE on | -0.5m |
| 4 PM | 1.5m | 0.6m SSE | 6s | 23 ESE on | -0.6m |
| 5 PM | 1.4m | 0.6m SSE | 6s | 21 ESE on | -0.4m |
| 6 PM | 1.4m | 0.7m SSE | 5s | 19 ESE on | -0.1m |
| 7 PM | 1.4m | 0.7m S | 5s | 21 ESE on | 0.2m |
| 8 PM | 1.4m | 0.7m S | 5s | 23 ESE cross | 0.6m |
| 9 PM | 1.4m | 0.8m S | 5s | 22 ESE on | 0.8m |
| 10 PM | 1.4m | 0.8m SSE | 5s | 20 ESE on | 0.9m |
| 11 PM | 1.3m | 0.9m SSE | 5s | 20 ESE on | 0.8m |
| 12 AM | 1.3m | 0.9m SSE | 5s | 19 ESE on | 0.7m |
| 1 AM | 1.3m | 0.9m SSE | 5s | 20 ESE on | 0.4m |
| 2 AM | 1.3m | 0.9m SSE | 5s | 19 ESE on | 0.2m |
| 3 AM | 1.3m | 0.9m SSE | 5s | 19 ESE on | 0.1m |
About Savu Island Reefs
Savu Island sits deep in the Sawu Sea and intercepts powerful open-ocean swells that have had hundreds of kilometres to build. The reefs here produce long, well-shaped walls and occasionally barrelling sections that keep advanced surfers fully occupied. Getting here takes commitment — multi-leg boat or ferry journeys — but the uncrowded, pristine lineup is a genuine off-the-beaten-path discovery. Come prepared with equipment to spare and a flexible schedule.
Local knowledge
The reefs at Savu are shallow, sharp, and largely live coral — a wipeout at the wrong moment means serious lacerations, so booties and a helmet are worth considering. Powerful open-ocean swell means heavy hold-downs are on the table, and unpredictable rips run along the reef edges; if caught inside, don't fight the current — find the channel. Medical facilities on Savu are extremely limited, so even a minor reef wound needs immediate, thorough cleaning to prevent tropical infection.
Savu (Sabu) Island is reached by a combination of flights via Kupang (El Tari Airport) or multi-leg ferry from Kupang through the Sawu Sea — expect one to two days of travel from Bali or Kupang depending on connections and sea conditions. Once on the island, local fishermen with ketinting (small outrigger boats) out of the main settlement of Seba are your best option for reef transfers; negotiate a pick-up time so you're not stranded on the reef at dusk. There are no surf camps or dedicated facilities as of writing — organise accommodation and boat hire in Seba and bring all your own supplies.
A solid performance shortboard (6'2"–6'6") handles the standard well-shaped walls, but pack a step-up or semi-gun (6'8"–7'2") for when the Sawu Sea delivers proper open-ocean size — this swell has real power and the reef rewards a board with drive and hold. Bring at least two boards; the nearest repair shop is back in Kupang.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Savu Island Reefs vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savu Island Reefs Best now this spot | 1.6m | 1.0m 6s | 24 on | Poor |
| 30 km away | 2.1m | 0.5m 7s | 39 on | Poor |
| 93 km away | 1.5m | 0.4m 6s | 35 on | Poor |
| 109 km away | 1.6m | 0.6m 6s | 25 on | Poor |
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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.