Bobon (Mati)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Bobon (near Mati) is a remote, boat-access reef-coral spot best known for a right-hand wave that can be hollow, fast, and powerful, with world-class wave quality. The break starts working from less than 1m and can hold up to 3m+ as the swell builds, making it a high-performance option during the main swell season. Riders describe it as consistent with high-performance walls and barrels on the right swell. Access is a major factor: it’s described as hard to find and generally reached by taking a boat (typically from Dahican Beach or Mati). Entry and conditions demand respect for the shoreline and sea state—sharp reef, coral, exposed rocks, and strong currents on larger swells are repeatedly cited hazards. Because the spot is tide-sensitive, it’s recommended to focus on high tide and rising tide; lower water levels can increase risk around the reef. Wind conditions are influenced by trade/Amihan patterns, with typical winds around 10–20 knots and moderate reliability. Offshore winds from the West or North are noted as the cleanest for surf quality. The best window reported for the spot is October through April (Amihan season), and crowd levels are generally quiet—empty on weekdays and only a few surfers on weekends. Safety planning matters here: there is no lifeguard presence, and rescue is described as limited (no formal motorized, sport-specific rescue). Localism is also mentioned as a consideration, so behaving respectfully and following on-the-water guidance is important given the remote setting and boat-only access.
- World-class, hollow right-hand reef-coral break
- Works from under 1m and can hold to 3m+
- Remote boat-only access with tide-critical conditions
- World-class right-hand reef break with hollow, fast, powerful characteristics.
- Consistent during the swell season (swell works from under 1m and can hold up to 3m+).
- Typically empty on weekdays with only a few surfers on weekends.
- Hard to find; requires boat access to reach the reef point.
- Difficult entry and exposed reef hazards.
- Lower tide can be dangerous.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, N, W
- Offshore directions
- W, N
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Amihan trade-wind influence reported for the spot’s conditions.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March, April
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Swell
- Beach
- Rocks — Flat rocks also reported for the bottom.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Big — Reported to start working under 1m and hold up to 3m+.
- Launch
- Small — Boat-based access or challenging rock entry
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Challenging rock entry; access primarily by boat.
Through the year
June to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
A right-hand reef-coral break known for consistency during the swell season, with hollow sections and high-performance walls.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- SE
- Swell Height
- 0.9–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide only; rising tide noted.
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the West or North provide the cleanest conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size and becomes very heavy and hollow.
- Wave Quality
- World class
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Hollow, fast, powerful conditions; world-class wave quality reported.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, peeling right-hander that sections into hollow barrels on the right swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bobon (Mati) in the full forecast view.
Bobon (Mati) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–8 ktsGusts 16 kts
- Direction
- ESE106°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 268 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.0 m8s period
- Temperature
- 26–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Bobon (Mati) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 16 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 0.6–1.0 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Sharp reef
- Submerged rocks
- Strong currents
- Localism
- Coral
- Exposed rocks
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No formal motorized kite-specific rescue; informal assistance may be provided by local surf community activity.
- Emergency Info
- Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center is located in Mati City; the national emergency number is 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate
Rules of the spot
- Accessible primarily by boat
- Accessible by boat only
- Respect the locals and the remote nature of the spot.
- Always check the tide as it becomes dangerous on lower water levels.
- The spot is hard to find and generally requires taking a boat to reach the reef point.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Mati
- Nearest Town
- Mati
- Nearest Airport
- Davao International Airport (DVO)
- Parking
- Parking is available at Dahican Beach before taking a boat to the spot.
- Access
- Access is typically by boat (bangka) from Dahican Beach or Mati town. Land access is extremely difficult due to lack of paved roads.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Cebuano, Tagalog, English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — A variety of resorts and guest houses are located at nearby Dahican Beach.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities at the spot; provisions must be brought by boat.
- Equipment Rental:
- Basic surfing and skimboarding equipment is widely available; kitesurfing gear is limited and often requires bringing your own.
- Gear Storage
- Limited storage is available at specific beachfront resorts catering to long-stay surfers.
- Gear Repair
- Informal board repairs are available for surfboards.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Mati (Davao Oriental) coast offers eco-tourism and raw coastal beauty, with a strong local board-riding community and consistent water-sport conditions during the Amihan season.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Bobon (Mati)?
The best overall months at Bobon (Mati) are October, November, December, January, February, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Bobon (Mati)?
Bobon (Mati) works with E, N, W winds. Offshore directions are W, N.
What skill level is Bobon (Mati) suitable for?
Bobon (Mati) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.