Bat Cave
IntermediateSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.1 m | 0.9m 9s S | 6 km/h off | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.0 m | 0.9m 9s S | 6 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 12 PM | 1.0 m | 0.9m 9s S | 8 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.0 m | 0.9m 10s SSW | 4 km/h off | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.0 m | 0.9m 10s S | 3 km/h off | 0.3m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.2 m | 1.0m 11s SSW | 1 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 12s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 12s SSW | 9 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.4 m | 1.2m 12s SSW | 9 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.4 m | 1.2m 11s S | 5 km/h on | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 12s SSW | 5 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 9 AM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 10 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 3 PM | 1.3 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 9 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.3 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 12 km/h on | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.3 m | 1.1m 10s SSW | 11 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 1.2 m | 1.1m 10s SSW | 11 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.2 m | 1.1m 10s SSW | 8 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 3 PM | 1.1 m | 1.0m 9s SSW | 3 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.1 m | 1.0m 9s SSW | 13 km/h on | 0.6m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
Show next 24h Hide
| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 9s | 3 WNW cross | 0.5m |
| 6 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 9s | 6 NW off | 0.5m |
| 7 AM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 9s | 9 NNW off | 0.5m |
| 8 AM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 9s | 6 WNW cross | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 9s | 6 W cross | 0.5m |
| 10 AM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 9s | 3 N off | 0.6m |
| 11 AM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 9s | 5 NW off | 0.7m |
| 12 PM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 9s | 8 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 1 PM | 1.0m | 0.8m S | 9s | 8 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 2 PM | 1.0m | 0.8m S | 9s | 7 WNW cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.0m | 0.9m SSW | 10s | 4 NW off | 0.6m |
| 4 PM | 1.0m | 0.9m SSW | 10s | 3 N off | 0.5m |
| 5 PM | 1.0m | 0.9m SSW | 10s | 3 NNE off | 0.4m |
| 6 PM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 10s | 3 NE off | 0.3m |
| 7 PM | 1.0m | 0.9m S | 9s | 5 NNE off | 0.3m |
| 8 PM | 1.1m | 0.9m S | 10s | 6 NNE off | 0.3m |
| 9 PM | 1.1m | 0.8m S | 10s | 5 N off | 0.4m |
| 10 PM | 1.1m | 0.8m S | 11s | 3 NNE off | 0.5m |
| 11 PM | 1.1m | 0.8m SSW | 11s | 3 NE off | 0.7m |
| 12 AM | 1.1m | 0.8m SSW | 11s | 4 NE off | 0.8m |
| 1 AM | 1.1m | 0.8m SSW | 11s | 2 ENE off | 0.9m |
| 2 AM | 1.1m | 0.9m SSW | 11s | 1 NE off | 0.9m |
| 3 AM | 1.2m | 0.9m SSW | 10s | 1 NE off | 0.9m |
| 4 AM | 1.2m | 1.0m SSW | 10s | 2 ESE cross | 0.8m |
About Bat Cave
Bat Cave is a fun reef break tucked into the Mentawai archipelago, offering punchy, hollow waves that reward surfers who can read reef setups. It works best on a solid swell, throwing up short, powerful sections that are great for practising barrel riding and sharp turns. Intermediate surfers will find it a satisfying step up from mellow beach breaks, though the reef demands respect and proper footwear out of the water. Crowds are typically lighter here than at the Mentawais' marquee spots.
Local knowledge
The reef is shallow, sharp, and lined with live coral — a wipeout on a set wave can mean a serious scrape or worse, so a helmet and reef booties are strongly advised. Watch for sea urchins in the shallower sections around the entry channel, and be mindful of rips that can pull along the reef's edge when swell is pumping. Boat traffic from passing charter vessels and water taxis can catch you off guard in the channel, so stay alert.
Bat Cave is a boat-access-only spot in the Mentawais — you'll get here via a charter boat or a day-trip speedboat out of Padang or one of the nearby island bases (Macaronis Resort area). Anchor in the channel, assess the reef from the boat before paddling out, and use the deeper water channel to enter and exit safely rather than trying to scramble over dry reef.
A versatile shortboard in the 6'0"–6'4" range with a bit of extra volume handles the punchy, hollow sections well on most days; bring a step-up (6'4"–6'8") if a solid 4–6 ft swell is running to keep control through the heavier, faster walls. Skip the fish or longboard — the quick, ledging nature of the reef rewards boards with rocker and hold.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Bat Cave vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bat Cave this spot | 1.1m | 0.9m 9s | 3 cross | Good |
| Lance’s Left Best now 17 km away | 1.4m | 1.2m 11s | 3 cross | Epic |
| 17 km away | 1.4m | 1.2m 11s | 3 cross | Epic |
| 19 km away | 1.2m | 1.0m 11s | 7 cross | Epic |
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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.