Semau Island
IntermediateSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 12s WSW | 4 km/h off | -0.1m |
| 9 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 12s WSW | 7 km/h cross | 1.3m |
| 12 PM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 12s WSW | 10 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 3 PM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 12s WSW | 13 km/h on | -0.4m |
| 6 PM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 12s WSW | 9 km/h on | 0.3m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 11s WSW | 6 km/h off | -0.5m |
| 9 AM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 11s WSW | 5 km/h cross | 1.1m |
| 12 PM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 11s WSW | 9 km/h on | 1.1m |
| 3 PM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 11s WSW | 11 km/h on | -0.3m |
| 6 PM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 10s WSW | 13 km/h cross | 0.0m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 10s WSW | 5 km/h off | -0.9m |
| 9 AM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 10s WSW | 8 km/h cross | 0.9m |
| 12 PM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 10s WSW | 11 km/h on | 1.3m |
| 3 PM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 10s WSW | 23 km/h on | -0.1m |
| 6 PM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 9s WSW | 21 km/h cross | -0.2m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.4 m | 0.3m 9s WSW | 7 km/h off | -1.2m |
| 9 AM | 0.4 m | 0.3m 9s WSW | 2 km/h off | 0.5m |
| 12 PM | 0.4 m | 0.3m 9s WSW | 16 km/h on | 1.4m |
| 3 PM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 9s WSW | 26 km/h cross | 0.1m |
| 6 PM | 0.5 m | 0.3m 9s WSW | 19 km/h cross | -0.4m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
Show next 24h Hide
| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 10 WSW on | -0.4m |
| 5 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 8 SW on | -0.2m |
| 6 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 9 SSW on | 0.3m |
| 7 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 11 S on | 0.8m |
| 8 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 10 S cross | 1.4m |
| 9 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 7 SE cross | 1.7m |
| 10 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 8 ESE off | 1.7m |
| 11 PM | 0.5m | 0.4m WSW | 12s | 8 E off | 1.5m |
| 12 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 5 ESE off | 1.0m |
| 1 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 3 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 2 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 12s | 3 SSE cross | -0.3m |
| 3 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 3 SSE cross | -0.8m |
| 4 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 3 SSE cross | -1.0m |
| 5 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 4 SE cross | -0.9m |
| 6 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 6 ESE off | -0.5m |
| 7 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 6 E off | 0.1m |
| 8 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 3 NE off | 0.7m |
| 9 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 5 NNW cross | 1.1m |
| 10 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 9 WNW cross | 1.4m |
| 11 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 8 W on | 1.4m |
| 12 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 9 SW on | 1.1m |
| 1 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 9 WSW on | 0.6m |
| 2 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 11 WSW on | 0.1m |
| 3 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m WSW | 11s | 11 SW on | -0.3m |
About Semau Island
Semau Island, a short crossing from Kupang, offers approachable reef breaks that are a step up from the beach without being overly intimidating. The waves tend to be moderately sized and relatively predictable, giving intermediate surfers room to develop their reef skills and tube-reading in a relaxed setting. The island has a laid-back pace and the water is warm and clear year-round. It's a solid option for surfers ready to graduate from sand-bottom waves and explore Timor's quieter coastline.
Local knowledge
The reef is shallow at low tide with sharp coral and scattered sea urchins — reef booties are strongly recommended and wipeouts should be treated with respect. A moderate channel current can push you down the reef on bigger swells, so pick a clear exit point before paddling out. Boat traffic from the Kupang crossing lane is a background hazard; stay aware when paddling out wide.
Take a short boat charter or local ferry from Tenau Harbour or the Kupang waterfront across the Semau Strait (roughly 20–30 minutes). Land at the village on the north side of the island and ask locals to point you toward the reef — there's no formal surf infrastructure, so a local guide or knowledgeable boat captain is a real asset for finding the best entry channel. Enter and exit via the deeper water channel to the side of the breaking wave; avoid scrambling directly over dry reef.
A versatile shortboard or a mid-length funboard (7'0"–7'6") covers most conditions here — the waves are moderate and forgiving enough for progression without demanding a specialist shape. On smaller, mushier days a fish or hybrid will help generate speed; if a larger south swell pushes through, step up to a slightly fuller shortboard with extra volume for confidence on the reef.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Semau Island vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semau Island this spot | 0.5m | 0.5m 12s | 10 on | Good |
| 10 km away | 0.5m | 0.4m 12s | 16 cross | Fair |
| 11 km away | 0.5m | 0.5m 12s | 10 cross | Fair |
| Nemberala-facing Timor Reefs Best now 14 km away | 0.8m | 0.8m 12s | 10 cross | Good |
Community photos
Shots from surfers at Semau Island. Got one? Share it below.
Nearest spots
Closest breaks to Semau IslandSurf camps & retreats
Stay at a surf camp near Semau Island
All-inclusive surf camps, coaching weeks and retreats — meals, lessons and accommodation sorted. Compare 1,500+ verified camps with reviews and instant booking.
- ✓ Free cancellation options
- ✓ Best price guarantee
- ✓ All levels, beginner to pro
We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link, at no extra cost to you.
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.