Suicides

Suicides is a high-performance reef-coral surf break accessed exclusively by boat in the Mentawai region. The wave is repeatedly described as fast and hollow with heavy barreling sections, built over a very shallow reef ledge with sharp coral heads and rocks. Because of the combination of extreme shallows and powerful hollow barrels, it is consistently framed as unforgiving and suitable only for expert surfers. Most sources describe it as a left-hand reef break (with some sources stating right-hand as well), and the direction remains a point of disagreement in the available information. The break is said to work best with a solid west or southwest swell, while the ideal tide is mid to high to keep surfers from striking the shallow reef. Optimal swell heights are given in ranges that start around roughly 1.0m and can hold up past 2m+ when conditions connect. Wind is dominated by trade patterns, with optimal wind directions reported as South, SouthEast, and East. Offshore trade winds are described as grooming the face for barrels, while onshore westerlies can blow the wave out. Wind is also described as steady, with reliability varying from moderate to average depending on season. Safety is a major theme for this spot: hazards include shallow reef, sharp rocks, powerful hollow barrels, strong channel currents, and an isolated setup with limited on-site rescue and limited medical infrastructure in the immediate area. Local tips emphasize waiting for mid-to-high tide and keeping your boat driver nearby, since there is no practical shore launch/paddle-out if equipment fails. Crowd reports generally indicate it is rarely crowded, but boat traffic can increase during mid-summer months.