THE MENTAWAI ISLANDS :

The Mentawai Islands lie roughly 100 km off of the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. They consist of 4 main islands with many smaller islands scattered throughout. From north to south, the main islands are Siberut, Sipora, North Pagi, and South Pagi. These islands block most swells from reaching the mainland on Sumatra, but they offer some of the most perfect surf in the world. Access to the islands is by sea only with regular ferries to the main trading ports, but by far the best way to access the surf is by charter boat.

Selecting a charter vessel :
Selecting your surf charter boat may frankly be the most important decision you make while planning your Mentawais trip. The quality and maintenance of the vessel, the charter operation at large, and the experience of the captain and crew will make or break your trip. Wavehunters offers 9 surf charter boats in the Mentawais. We have opted to work with these vessels because each of these boats in our experience offers a competitive or tactical edge over other Mentawais vessels. Each of these vessels and their crews have logged a minimum of 3-10 years experience in the Mentawais islands. Each of these boats and/or their skippers and crews have a positive track record for a minimum of 3-10 seasons which speaks for itself.

Criteria to select a Mentawais surf charter boat are as follows :

1) Mechanical condition, maintenance and safety standards of the vessel :
What is done in the “offseason” is even more important than what is done in the season. Our owner/operator skippers put the money back into their boats to keep them maintained at the highest levels, while other vessels often suck the money out of them and let them run down.

2) Owner/Operator Skipper & Surf Guide :
Having an experienced and fully credentialed owner/operator skipper onboard is critical to the success of your charter experience. Most of our owner/operator skippers are also very accomplished surfers, and the combination of these 2 qualities makes them uniquely qualified to lead surf charter expeditions in the Mentawais. These include:

MV Addiction: Eric Foraker (USA)
Bintang: Daryl Robinson (Australia), Ashton Robinson (Australia)
Navistar: Carrick Robinson (Australia)
Nusantara: Adam Kranz (Florida), Rob Morris (Kauai)
Tengirri: Jeff Davis (Australia)

3) Speed & tactical advantage
With an increase in crowds and the # of boats in the Mentawais in recent seasons, speed is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Many boats frequently misadvertise their speeds, particularly big monohulls that routinely fall short of their advertised cruising speeds as these boats consume too much fuel at high speeds due to the high draft. Some of these boats advertise 20 knots +, but typically deliver only 12-15 knots.

NOTE: WAVEHUNTERS FLEET ADVERTISES TRUE CRUISING SPEEDS.

Culture :
The islands are inhabited by local villages scattered throughout, where the main contact they have with the Western world is through the main ports, or encountering traveling surfers aboard charter boats. It is not uncommon to be parked at a surf break and have the locals paddle out to the boat in dugout canoes to sell locally made, hand-crafted souveneirs. The landscape is made up of dense tropical forest sloping up from the coast to the high mountain ranges.

Health :
Malaria is rampant on the islands and surfers should take full malaria precautions when visiting the Mentawais. Malarone is recommended. Malarone must be prescribed by a physician prior to the trip and is taken orally with minimal side effects. Larium is not recommended due to strong side effects and larium is considered by most to be “overkill” for the generally mild risk exposure while onboard a surf charter vessel. Prevention is also recommended by taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites which include repellant, dress, and staying clear of land and swamp areas especially at night. Malaria is something to take seriously and not to “blow off”. Med-evac insurance is required for all charters and can be signed up for online through Access America.

Climate :
The Mentawai Islands have consistently high temperatures and humidity, with very little change in temperature year round due to it’s proximity to the Equator. The temperature ranges between 72 – 90 F degrees (22 – 32C). Water temperature is fairly constant at about 80F degrees (27C). The dry season in this region of Indo is from January to September, and the wet season is from from October to December. Even during the dry season, you can expect rainfall regularly, usually lasting for 1-2 hours, but mainly at night. In the wet season, the rain is more frequent and a light poncho is good to have with you. The winds are variable throughout most of the year. Since the islands are very close to the Equator, they are less affected by any trade winds and most winds are due to local storms or pressure differentials with many glassy days during the surf season.

The Surf :
Indonesia is one of the most consistent surf destinations in the world. The best waves can be had from March to October, with the biggest swells likely to occur in June-September. During these months the winds are variable and it’s easy to find a break with offshore conditions since there are waves facing almost every direction. The swells are from the South to Southwest and are generated from the many low pressure systems the move from west to east across the southern Indian Ocean. During the peak months of June – September, the surf ranges from head-high to double overhead, with larger swells at times, and usually never drops below 3-4 feet. In the early and late season (Mar-May, Oct-Nov), the surf is usually chesthigh to a couple feet overhead on average. This is a great time for surfers seeking less intense waves with more options perhaps for intermediates.

Equipment :
You’ll need to take everything with you that you think you may need. There are no surf shops in the islands or in Padang, so make sure you have a spare surfboard or two, along with extra fins, leashes, wax, etc. Board size is a personal thing, but it would be wise to bring an assortment for various conditions. Recommended quiver is 2 to 3 boards: A normal shortboard, a mid-range gun (6-6 to 6-10), and a larger gun for the bigger days (7-0 to 7-6) when there is a bit more water moving. It can get double or triple overhead during the larger swells during the peak month of July and August. The warm crystal blue waters make it possible to swim without a wetsuit, but a vest or long-sleeved rashguard is advised for protection from the sun. Booties are a necessity due to the sharp coral found at all of the reefs. A helmet is also recommended. Be sure to bring plenty of waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.