Sometimes (Mentawai)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Sometimes is a left-hander reef-coral break that relies on the right combination of swell energy and light offshore-leaning winds to deliver clean, workable walls. The break starts working around 1.0–1.5 m and can hold up to around 2 m+ on larger sets, making it ideal when the Indian Ocean is producing longer-period swell. The wave is described as fun and ordinary/moderate in power, typically with good wave quality and peeling sections. Normal ride lengths are commonly reported in the 50–150 m range, with longer options on better days (up to roughly 150–300 m). On larger swells, it tends to hold its shape up to around 2.5 m before becoming more sectiony or closing out. Access is boat-only, and there is nothing on land at the spot. Hazards are a major part of the planning: shallow reef, sharp coral, rocks, and submerged reef channels increase the risk during wipeouts and tidal exchanges. Currents can pull through reef channels during tide changes, and the break is also described as exposed. Wind-wise, the best direction is from the North sector (North, NorthWest, NorthEast) with typically light conditions (about 5–15 knots). When cross-winds from the south increase, the face can degrade quickly—so timing and swell/wind pairing matter. The prime season is generally April through October, with peak activity reported around June to August and rainy season more likely in November to March.
- Boat-only reef break with few surfers
- Works around 1.0–1.5 m and can hold larger swells
- Long rides (50–150 m, up to ~300 m on optimal days)
- Best wind from the North sector in light conditions
- Good-quality left-hander reef break with long, workable walls
- Works from smaller swells (around 1.0–1.5 m) and can hold larger size
- Often sees few surfers relative to more famous nearby lineups
- Best conditions align with April to October dry-season swell patterns
- Boat-only access with limited on-site infrastructure
- Sharp reef and shallow sections create a high injury risk during wipeouts
- Requires sufficient swell energy to start working
- Light winds mean surf cleanliness depends strongly on wind direction and timing
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NW, NE
- Offshore directions
- N, NW, NE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Optimal winds are reported from the North sector; conditions are light enough that cleanliness/glassy surface matters.
- Reliability
- The area is generally characterized by light winds; surfing relies on glassy or light offshore conditions.
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Described as steady.
- Best Months
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Reef — Reef composition.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Medium — Medium wave size reported; also described to start at ~1.0–1.5 m and hold up to 2 m+.
- Launch
- Small — Launch is typically from a boat or charter vessel as the break is located offshore.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Access and break positioning require boating; shallow reef increases challenge.
Through the year
Peak season is June to August; shoulder months like April and October offer fewer crowds but less consistent swell.
November to March
By sport
What to expect for each.
Light winds and reef breaks can provide opportunities for advanced foilers, but access is exclusively by boat and the reef is shallow.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions described as limited.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 5–6 m²
A left-hander reef-coral break that starts working on smaller swell and can hold larger size, but it is shallow and hazardous over reef.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- W, WSW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Best tide position is reported as all tides.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Break is located offshore and described as exposed.
- Wind Effect
- Requires light Northerly winds to remain clean; cross-winds from the south can easily ruin the face.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well up to about 2.5 meters before starting to close out or become sectiony.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality described as good.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Also described as 'Ordinary, Fun' in the spot database.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Left-hander reef break; occasionally more hollow sections over coral.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling sections are described with medium speed.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Normal rides 50 to 150 m; can reach 150 to 300 m on a good day.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal rides range between 50 and 150 meters, extending up to 300 meters on optimal days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sometimes (Mentawai) in the full forecast view.
Sometimes (Mentawai) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–7 ktsGusts 16 kts
- Direction
- SE146°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 247 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.5 m11s period
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sometimes (Mentawai) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–7 kts, peaking around 7 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 16 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 0.7–1.5 m with a period of about 11s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
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 coral reef
- Shallow water
- Remote location
- Rocks
- Coral
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level report indicates no rescue availability.
- Emergency Info
- Medical facilities are limited on the islands; most serious injuries require a boat transfer back to Padang.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Described as mild.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the lineup and the surf charter rotation.
- Boat access only
- Access is boat-only with nothing on land at the spot.
- Check the swell period—this break needs energy to show its potential.
- Use booties if you are not comfortable walking on sharp reef during wipeouts.
- The break is often less crowded than more famous neighbors in the region.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Padang (mainland gateway to Mentawai)
- Nearest Town
- Muara Siberut
- Parking
- No vehicle parking available; access is strictly by water.
- Access
- Accessible only by boat, typically via surf charter or local speedboat from nearby surf camps.
- Local Language
- Indonesian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Surf charters and luxury surf resorts are the primary accommodation options in the Mentawai Islands.
- Food & Drink
- None available at the break; provided by your boat or camp.
- Equipment Rental:
- Not available at the break; bring all your own gear.
- Gear Storage
- Onboard your charter or at your resort.
- Gear Repair
- Basic repair kits are usually available at surf camps or on charters.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Sometimes (Mentawai)?
The best overall months at Sometimes (Mentawai) are April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Which wind directions work at Sometimes (Mentawai)?
Sometimes (Mentawai) works with N, NW, NE winds. Offshore directions are N, NW, NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Sometimes (Mentawai)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Sometimes (Mentawai): Wingfoiling: 5–6 m². The typical wind range is 5–15 kts.
What skill level is Sometimes (Mentawai) suitable for?
Sometimes (Mentawai) suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Intermediate.