The Bubble
IntermediateSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.8 m | 0.7m 10s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 9 AM | 0.8 m | 0.7m 10s SSW | 10 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 0.8 m | 0.7m 10s SSW | 10 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 3 PM | 0.8 m | 0.7m 10s SSW | 2 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 0.8 m | 0.7m 10s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.5m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.7 m | 0.6m 10s SSW | 6 km/h cross | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 0.7 m | 0.6m 9s SSW | 5 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 12 PM | 0.7 m | 0.6m 9s SSW | 5 km/h off | 0.3m |
| 3 PM | 0.7 m | 0.6m 9s SSW | 4 km/h off | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 0.7 m | 0.6m 9s SSW | 3 km/h on | 0.6m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.7 m | 0.4m 9s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 1.0m |
| 9 AM | 0.7 m | 0.4m 8s SSW | 5 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 0.7 m | 0.5m 8s SSW | 6 km/h off | 0.2m |
| 3 PM | 0.7 m | 0.4m 8s SSW | 5 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 6 PM | 0.7 m | 0.5m 9s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.6m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.7 m | 0.5m 9s SSW | 5 km/h off | 1.1m |
| 9 AM | 0.7 m | 0.5m 9s SSW | 0 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 12 PM | 0.7 m | 0.5m 9s SSW | 3 km/h cross | 0.2m |
| 3 PM | 0.7 m | 0.5m 9s SSW | 5 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 6 PM | 0.7 m | 0.5m 9s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.7m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 11s | 4 S on | 0.7m |
| 1 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 11s | 5 SE cross | 0.8m |
| 2 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 11s | 9 ESE cross | 0.9m |
| 3 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 11s | 7 SE cross | 0.9m |
| 4 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 8 SE cross | 0.9m |
| 5 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 7 SE on | 0.8m |
| 6 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 6 SSE on | 0.7m |
| 7 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 8 SSE on | 0.5m |
| 8 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 9 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 9 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 10 ESE cross | 0.3m |
| 10 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 11 ESE cross | 0.3m |
| 11 AM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 11 E cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 10 E cross | 0.5m |
| 1 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 7 E cross | 0.6m |
| 2 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 2 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 2 SW on | 0.7m |
| 4 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 2 SW on | 0.7m |
| 5 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 4 SSE on | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 8 SSW on | 0.5m |
| 7 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 7 S on | 0.4m |
| 8 PM | 0.8m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 9 SE cross | 0.3m |
| 9 PM | 0.7m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 11 SE cross | 0.3m |
| 10 PM | 0.7m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 10 SSE on | 0.3m |
| 11 PM | 0.7m | 0.7m SSW | 10s | 10 SSE on | 0.4m |
About The Bubble
The Bubble lives up to its name with a wave that surges and pitches over the reef, throwing up playful, barrelling sections that intermediate surfers will love to navigate. It's not the biggest wave in the region, but it has real character and can produce some surprisingly hollow moments. A fun, engaging break that rewards patience in the lineup.
Local knowledge
The wave breaks over a shallow, sharp coral reef that becomes dangerously exposed at low tide — reef cuts are common and sea urchins lurk in the cracks, so reef booties are strongly advised. A sneaky lateral current runs along the reef on the push of a swell, and can drag unprepared surfers into the rocky section near the channel; keep an eye on your position at all times. Boat traffic from passing fishing vessels and charter boats can be a hazard in the channel, especially early morning.
The Bubble is accessed by boat from Sorake or Lagundri Bay — a short 5–10 minute ride that most guesthouses and surf camps in the area can arrange for a small fee. There is no meaningful paddle-out from shore; wait for the channel to line up and paddle through it to avoid the reef on entry. Exit back through the same channel and flag your boat or bodysurf the whitewash carefully onto the sand if conditions allow.
A versatile shortboard or a fun-shape in the 6'2"–6'8" range suits The Bubble well, giving you enough float to pick up the playful, surging sections while staying loose enough to fit into the hollow moments. On rare bigger swells, step up to a 6'10"–7'2" step-up with some extra volume to handle the increased speed off the reef.
moderate — be polite, wait your turn.
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Surfing in Nias
Full Nias surf guide →Off the west coast of North Sumatra, Nias is one of Indonesia's true surf landmarks — home to Lagundri Bay, the right-hand point at the island's southern tip that put the country on the world surf map back in the 1970s. It's a place of pilgrimage, where a single peeling wall over coral has drawn travelling surfers for decades.
✈️Getting there
Most surfers fly into Binaka Airport (GNS) at Gunungsitoli in the north of Nias, usually via Medan (Kualanamu, KNO) on a short domestic hop with Wings Air or similar. From Bali or Jakarta you'll connect through Medan.
🛵Getting around
At Lagundri Bay everything is walkable — the losmen sit right along the point, and you can paddle out from the steps. Many guests don't need transport at all once settled.
🌤️Climate & season
Nias has a tropical equatorial climate — warm and humid year-round, with water temperatures sitting around 27–29°C, so boardshorts and a rash guard are plenty (boots for the reef, not warmth).