SURFING ROTE

Rote has some epic waves on its day when the swell direction is right and the winds are light or offshore. Most are easily accessible with a short walk from Lualemba Bungalow Resort or whether you hire a motorbike with surfboard racks or hire a car for some of the further surf destinations. Surf breaks are located just a short distance from Nemberala beach harbor with the convenience of one of our boats we can get you there. Some surf breaks are including with the price of your accommodation with one of our captains waiting at the surf location while you surf.

Besialu Reef (alias T-Land)

Besialu reef is a left hand wave that works best with east to south east winds and is the main surfing area on the island of Rote located west of the village of Nemberala. Situated one kilometer from the beach the easiest way to get there is by boat. Lualemba has a boat exclusive for guests staying at Lualemba Bungalow Resort that includes unlimited trips to and from the mooring area just outside break. The boat stays out at the break while guests are surfing and in case of equipment malfunction or a change in weather conditions. The boat may have to leave for a short period of time to transport other guests staying at Lualemba Bungalow Resort.

 Besialu Reef has four take off areas along its reef. The furthest inside area is called "The Point" that is a shallower part of the reef that consists of a steep take off with fast hollow sections and on a good day going through between the Pyramid to the mountain.

 The second take off area is "The Pyramid" which is the most popular surfed area of Besialu Reef. Marked by a small rock on the reef in front with the right swell direction on a good day surfers can surf 300 meters in distance into Bananas. Definitely the most consistent part of Besialu Reef it is surf able  one foot (knee high face) up to twelve feet ( three to Four times overhead face}. A fun part of Besialu Reef that allows a surfer to do multiple types of maneuvers on one wave.

 The third take off area is " The Mountain" that has probably the best take off section on Besialu Reef due to its enormous volume of water jacking up at the take off section giving it the name "The Mountain". It takes a little more swell than The Pyramid to start breaking properly usually takes a three to four foot swell (chest to head high face) and up to 15 foot ( friggin huge}. The bigger this wave gets the more top to bottom it becomes bringing some awesome barrel sections with some racy walls to make into Bananas that can get quite shallow.Some surfers claim it to be the best part of Besialu Reef.

 The fourth take off area is "Bananas" named by its bending shape on the end of Besialu Reef. Located in front of where the boat moorings are out at Besialu Reef it is usually better surfed mid to high to mid tide on days when a decent swell is running. "Bananas" can get quite hollow with some tricky sections to overcome but can be fun on its day.

 Warning to guests taking on Besialu Reef in large swells is there is a lot of water movement happening and a longer gun shape surfboard is required doesn't matter how good a surfer you may think you are. To successfully make it beyond the first bottom turn section with enough drive to keep up with the pace of the wave i recommend nothing under a 7'6"gun and anything longer is going to be a bonus. Some surfers are riding 10' plus guns out there in large swells. Also beware of grouping up in the line up because clean up sets surprise the most alert surfers and the last thing you want is to be tangled up while getting thrashed around in the impact zone.

Nemberala Bombie

 Situated next reef to Besialu Reef on the other side to harbour entrance out from Nemberala beach and is best to take the Lualemba boat to get there. Prefers no wind to very gentle east wind as it is very exposed with no protection from an exposed reef. This wave has an A-frame shape to it with a tricky positioning for the take off spot. The wave has a short steep wall and with the right conditions can produce some epic barrels then exiting to a huge driving cutback the wave turns into a left hand right.

 The left is a fast wall of a wave that you must race to make the sections. On the right conditions it can be as good or even better than Besialu Reef. The Bombie likes a more south swell and breaks better on a lower tide. It becomes an extremely heavy wave on a large swell and a surfer has to have its wits about judging the conditions and dealing with the impact of the wave.

The Spit

 Situated about 200 meters south of "The Point" at Besialu Reef is an opening of about fifty meteres in the reef that can produce a left and right. Best to get there by Lualemba boat and prefers a easterly wind. With the correct swell direction and a high tide it can produce a softer fun waves. The left works better with a south swell and is more for experienced surfer. The right is a pretty soft wave but can get shallow quickly on the inside

Squillers

 Known as the girls wave amongst many surfers is great for the beginner or those intimidated by the other surf spots around Rote. Can be an easy paddle to and from the beach or the Lualemba boat can take you there if tide doesn't get too low. Its located inside the reef between Nemberala beach and "The Bombie" north of the boat harbor. Likes any easterly direction wind and is recommended to be surfed mid to high to mid tides. A fun soft waves that can go left or right when taking off. Can be an excellent Longboard wave in larger swells. It has become a popular foiling wave where surfers are spread out away from each other.

Saku Namors

 Saku Namor has a couple nick names "Sucky Mammas" or "suckys" is located around four kilometres north from Nemberala beach harbour where there is an opening in the reef about one kilometre or so from the beach. There is a church with a high pitch roof as a landmark. A right hand break that is the most common surfed area there that consists an inside take off section and a short out side take off section. Both consist of a steep take off that can produces some fairly hollow sections. It’s pretty rare to do a cutback at this surf spot. Not so good on a too low tide as it can get pretty shallow. Watch for sneaker sets that can clean up the line up. Sako Nomor is pretty exposed to wind with no protection from exposed reef so best surfed early mornings. There is a left on the other side of the channel that can produce an excellent wave but needs a bigger swell to produce a rideable wave. Best to charter the Lualemba boat to get there as it’s a very rough journey there with a long long paddle from the beach. Lualemba boat charter maximum 6 people for larger boat RP 700,000.

Oe Mau Reef at Boa

 Oe mau Reef is a classic Indonesian right hand wave when on its day can be better than Nias. Located about six kilometres south from Nemberala. Best to hire motor bike with surfboard racks. Probably doesn't get much over eight feet on a solid Indian Ocean ground swell no mater how big the swell the lip just gets thicker. Can be still a great wave small running on the edge of the reef but when it reach four to five feet (head high face) it becomes an epic wave with awesome hollow sections and fun playable walls. Take off can stand up with a challenging drop especially with a bit of size. Any tide is good for Oe Mau Reef can shut down more on a lower tide. Likes norherly winds or early morning before the trades (south east) winds set in for the day. Best to get there by motor bike with a short walk from the beach accross the reef about 50 metres. Sets can surprise surfers as they appear from nowhere out of deep water. Seen more broken surfboards caused from clean up sets.

Bibi Usu Reef and Fanny Rock

More favorable during the wet season with cyclone swells a few hundred kilometers from Rote heading down towards the Western Australian coast. Can be difficult to plan a trip when this surf break turns on as getting to the island of Rote can be difficult as most of the time planes and ferries to and from are cancelled. Fanny rock especially is for the experienced surfer who isn’t intimidated by rocks, shallow reef, current and heavy breaking waves. Bibi Usu towards the northern end is a lot tamer but the wave has a lot of power for its size and is fast moving wave.

Dana Island

Situated south west of Nemberala it is a good half / day trip with good lefts and right breaking into the channel. Also a good left breaks to the north west of the island but needs little wind or no wind for it to break at its best. Awesome day on the Te Aila yacht motor over in the morning and a pleasant sail back to Nemberala