Thunders
AdvancedSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.4 m | 1.2m 11s S | 7 km/h off | 0.4m |
| 9 AM | 1.4 m | 1.1m 10s S | 3 km/h off | 0.5m |
| 12 PM | 1.4 m | 1.2m 10s S | 7 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.4 m | 1.2m 11s S | 4 km/h off | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.4 m | 1.2m 11s S | 4 km/h off | 0.3m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.7 m | 1.6m 13s SSW | 2 km/h on | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.8 m | 1.7m 13s S | 6 km/h on | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.9 m | 1.7m 13s S | 9 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 3 PM | 1.9 m | 1.8m 13s S | 9 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.9 m | 1.9m 13s S | 7 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.8 m | 1.8m 12s SSW | 4 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 9 AM | 1.8 m | 1.8m 12s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.8 m | 1.7m 12s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 3 PM | 1.8 m | 1.7m 12s SSW | 11 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.8 m | 1.7m 12s SSW | 12 km/h on | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.7 m | 1.4m 11s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 1.6 m | 1.4m 11s SSW | 13 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.6 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 11 km/h on | 0.3m |
| 3 PM | 1.5 m | 1.2m 11s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.5 m | 1.1m 10s SSW | 4 km/h on | 0.5m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
Show next 24h Hide
| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 AM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 11s | 3 NW off | 0.4m |
| 8 AM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 11s | 7 NNE off | 0.4m |
| 9 AM | 1.4m | 1.1m S | 10s | 3 N off | 0.5m |
| 10 AM | 1.4m | 1.1m S | 10s | 6 NW off | 0.6m |
| 11 AM | 1.4m | 1.1m S | 10s | 5 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 12 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 10s | 7 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 1 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 10s | 6 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 2 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 10s | 2 NW off | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 11s | 4 NW off | 0.6m |
| 4 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 11s | 3 NNW off | 0.5m |
| 5 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 11s | 3 NNE off | 0.4m |
| 6 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 11s | 4 NE off | 0.3m |
| 7 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 12s | 5 NE off | 0.3m |
| 8 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m S | 12s | 3 ENE off | 0.3m |
| 9 PM | 1.4m | 1.2m SSW | 12s | 3 NNE off | 0.4m |
| 10 PM | 1.5m | 1.2m SSW | 12s | 3 N off | 0.5m |
| 11 PM | 1.5m | 1.2m SSW | 12s | 2 N off | 0.7m |
| 12 AM | 1.5m | 1.3m S | 12s | 3 NNE off | 0.8m |
| 1 AM | 1.6m | 1.4m S | 12s | 1 NNE off | 0.9m |
| 2 AM | 1.6m | 1.4m SSW | 12s | 0 W cross | 0.9m |
| 3 AM | 1.6m | 1.4m SSW | 13s | 0 NNW off | 0.9m |
| 4 AM | 1.6m | 1.4m SSW | 13s | 0 NNE off | 0.8m |
| 5 AM | 1.7m | 1.5m SSW | 13s | 1 SSE on | 0.6m |
| 6 AM | 1.7m | 1.6m SSW | 13s | 2 SE cross | 0.5m |
About Thunders
Thunders is one of the Mentawais' most celebrated left-handers, breaking with long, grinding barrels over a consistent reef. The wave builds and pitches with real power, making it a dream for advanced tube-riders chasing extended, makeable sections. It can hold solid swell and stays organised even as the size builds, rewarding surfers who commit early and stay deep. If you're making the journey to the Mentawais, Thunders is the kind of wave that defines the trip.
Local knowledge
The reef at Thunders is shallow, sharp and unforgiving — wipeouts on bigger sets can push you hard onto the coral, and the section over the shallowest part of the reef demands a committed, clean drop or you'll pay the price. A strong channel current runs alongside the break and can pull you out of position quickly; stay aware of your drift between sets. Sea urchins are present on the reef shelf, so reef booties are worth considering, and boat traffic in the channel increases significantly when the boats are anchored nearby.
Thunders is a boat-only break — you'll reach it via a surf charter or day boat out of Padang (roughly 8–10 hours by fast boat) or from a liveaboard already positioned in the Mentawais. Most surfers jump off the boat directly into the channel on the north side of the break and paddle across into the lineup; exit back through the same channel and your boat tender will pick you up. There is no land access, no warung, no shore — your boat is your base camp.
A proven performance shortboard in the 6'2"–6'6" range with a pulled-in tail and enough volume to paddle into the fast-building wall is the everyday quiver choice here. Bring a step-up in the 6'8"–7'0" range for solid overhead-plus days when the wave gets heavy and the drop steepens — you'll want the hold.
moderate — be polite, wait your turn.
Where to go now
Thunders vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunders this spot | 1.4m | 1.2m 11s | 3 off | Good |
| The Hole Best now 5 km away | 1.6m | 1.4m 11s | 2 off | Good |
| 15 km away | 1.5m | 1.3m 10s | 4 off | Good |
| 15 km away | 1.5m | 1.3m 10s | 4 off | Good |
Community photos
Shots from surfers at Thunders. Got one? Share it below.
Nearest spots
Closest breaks to ThundersSurf schools & local guides near Thunders
Learn or level up with established local instructors.
Kapowui Surf Lessons Santa Monica / Venice
★ 5.02701 Barnard Way, Parking lot, 5 south, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA
4101 Google reviews
Pacific Surf School
★ 5.0707 Pacific Beach Dr, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
1715 Google reviews
NYC Surfing
★ 5.0Beach 67th Street, Beach Front Rd, Arverne, NY 11692, USA
166 Google reviews
Seasons Surf School
★ 5.01-35 Beach 91st St, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693, USA
73 Google reviews
Alfred Zagoto surf lessons
★ 5.0Jl. Sorake Beach, Botohilitano, Kec. Fanayama, Nias, Sumatera Utara 22865, Indonesia
12 Google reviews
Uma Laguna Surfboard Rent
★ 5.0Km 0. Near harbour, Tuapejat, Sipora Utara, Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai, Sumatera Barat 25932, Indonesia
10 Google reviews
Santa Barbara Surf School
★ 5.0736 Carpinteria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, USA
1124 Google reviews
NIAS SURFING EXPERIENCE SCHOOL OF SURFING
★ 5.0Jl.pantai Jl. Sorake, Botohilitano, Kec. Tlk. Dalam, Kabupaten Nias Selatan, Sumatera Utara 22865, Indonesia
5 Google reviews
Surf camps & retreats
Stay at a surf camp near Thunders
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 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.