The Hole
ExpertSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 2.4 m | 2.0m 10s S | 17 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 9 AM | 2.4 m | 2.0m 10s S | 12 km/h cross | 0.1m |
| 12 PM | 2.4 m | 2.1m 10s S | 12 km/h on | 0.0m |
| 3 PM | 2.3 m | 2.1m 9s S | 15 km/h on | 0.5m |
| 6 PM | 2.2 m | 2.0m 9s S | 11 km/h on | 0.5m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 2.0 m | 1.8m 10s S | 15 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 2.0 m | 1.7m 9s S | 15 km/h on | 0.2m |
| 12 PM | 2.0 m | 1.4m 9s S | 19 km/h on | -0.0m |
| 3 PM | 2.0 m | 1.1m 13s SSW | 18 km/h on | 0.5m |
| 6 PM | 2.0 m | 1.3m 11s S | 14 km/h on | 0.7m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 2.0 m | 1.8m 10s S | 15 km/h on | 0.9m |
| 9 AM | 2.0 m | 1.8m 10s S | 19 km/h on | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 2.0 m | 1.7m 10s S | 18 km/h on | -0.0m |
| 3 PM | 2.0 m | 1.6m 11s S | 18 km/h on | 0.4m |
| 6 PM | 2.0 m | 1.5m 11s SSW | 15 km/h on | 0.8m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 2.1 m | 1.7m 13s SSW | 14 km/h on | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 2.2 m | 1.9m 14s SSW | 10 km/h on | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 2.2 m | 1.9m 14s SSW | 15 km/h on | -0.1m |
| 3 PM | 2.3 m | 2.0m 14s SSW | 13 km/h on | 0.3m |
| 6 PM | 2.3 m | 2.0m 14s SSW | 12 km/h on | 0.9m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
Show next 24h Hide
| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 AM | 2.3m | 1.8m S | 10s | 18 SE on | 0.7m |
| 3 AM | 2.3m | 1.9m S | 10s | 19 SE on | 0.8m |
| 4 AM | 2.3m | 1.9m S | 10s | 17 SE on | 0.8m |
| 5 AM | 2.3m | 2.0m S | 10s | 17 SE on | 0.8m |
| 6 AM | 2.4m | 2.0m S | 10s | 17 SE on | 0.7m |
| 7 AM | 2.4m | 2.0m S | 10s | 13 ESE cross | 0.5m |
| 8 AM | 2.4m | 2.0m S | 10s | 16 SE on | 0.3m |
| 9 AM | 2.4m | 2.0m S | 10s | 12 ESE cross | 0.1m |
| 10 AM | 2.4m | 2.0m S | 10s | 16 SE on | 0.0m |
| 11 AM | 2.4m | 2.0m S | 10s | 16 E cross | -0.0m |
| 12 PM | 2.4m | 2.1m S | 10s | 12 SE on | 0.0m |
| 1 PM | 2.3m | 2.1m S | 10s | 17 SE on | 0.2m |
| 2 PM | 2.3m | 2.1m S | 9s | 13 SSE on | 0.3m |
| 3 PM | 2.3m | 2.1m S | 9s | 15 SSE on | 0.5m |
| 4 PM | 2.3m | 2.1m S | 9s | 15 SSE on | 0.6m |
| 5 PM | 2.2m | 2.1m S | 9s | 11 SE on | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 2.2m | 2.0m S | 9s | 11 SE on | 0.5m |
| 7 PM | 2.2m | 2.0m S | 9s | 14 SE on | 0.4m |
| 8 PM | 2.2m | 2.0m S | 9s | 14 SE on | 0.3m |
| 9 PM | 2.2m | 1.9m S | 9s | 15 SE on | 0.1m |
| 10 PM | 2.1m | 1.9m S | 9s | 14 SE on | 0.1m |
| 11 PM | 2.1m | 1.9m S | 9s | 16 SE on | 0.1m |
| 12 AM | 2.1m | 1.9m S | 9s | 15 SE on | 0.1m |
| 1 AM | 2.1m | 1.8m S | 9s | 16 SE on | 0.3m |
About The Hole
The Hole is a brutally intense, expert-only slab that detonates over one of the shallower reefs in the Mentawais, producing extremely thick, short and violent barrels. This is not a wave for the faint-hearted — the take-off is near-vertical and the lip lands with tremendous force. Only surfers with serious big-wave and barrel experience should even consider paddling out. For the rare few who can handle it, the reward is a raw, unforgettable rush.
Local knowledge
The reef here is dangerously shallow — arguably the shallowest slab in the Mentawais — and a wipeout at any size means a near-certain encounter with live, razor-sharp coral. The near-vertical take-off and explosive lip mean hold-downs are violent and disorienting; two-wave hold-downs are a real possibility on bigger sets. Boat traffic in the channel is constant during peak season, so always be aware of your position relative to anchored and moving vessels.
The Hole is boat-access only — you'll need a liveaboard or a day-charter out of Padang or one of the island camps around North Pagai/Sipora. Most boats anchor in the deep-water channel to the side of the break; entry is by jumping from the boat or dinghy into the channel and paddling to the peak, keeping well clear of the impact zone. Exit back to the channel is critical — do not attempt to exit over the reef.
Bring a short, thick, high-volume step-up — something in the 6'2"–6'8" range with a rounded pin or swallow tail that can handle the steep drop and hold through a compressed, violent barrel. Do not ride anything you're not prepared to snap in half; have a spare board on the boat at all times.
moderate — be polite, wait your turn.
Where to go now
The Hole vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hole Best now this spot | 2.3m | 1.8m 10s | 18 on | Good |
| 5 km away | 1.9m | 1.5m 11s | 14 on | Good |
| 19 km away | 2.0m | 1.8m 10s | 15 on | Good |
| 19 km away | 2.0m | 1.8m 10s | 15 on | Good |
Community photos
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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.