South Mentawai · Indonesia
Surfing Iceland
A left reef in South Mentawai, Indonesia, for advanced surfers.
Iceland is a big left in central Sipora, lumpy and shifting, breaking over deep reef that lets the full Indian Ocean swell through.
When swells reach 6-10ft and the more precise waves max out, Iceland keeps working, with long, powerful walls, some hollow sections and big paddle-in drops. The lumps and shifts mean experience and positioning count for a lot.
E-NE winds clean it up and the channel is wide. It doesn't look great on camera, which keeps the crowd small. Bring a proper step-up, around 6'8".
When to surf
Iceland
Iceland is at its best from April to October. Conditions it likes: SW swell, E-NE wind.
April to May: Good
Fewer boats and good swell
June to August: Prime
Peak season: maximum swell, maximum boats, book long ahead
September to October: Prime
Still good swell, fewer boats
November to March: Quiet
Small season: playful sizes, big discounts, empty lineups
The year across Mentawai Islands
Waves near Iceland
Telescopes
3 kmSouth Mentawai · Left Reef · Advanced
Scarecrows
15 kmSouth Mentawai · Left Reef · Advanced
Rifles
28 kmPlaygrounds (North) · Right Reef · Advanced / Pro
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: The south splits into two hubs: Katiet under Lance's Right/HT's, and Macaronis' resort-and-anchorage bay on Pagai. All stays are full-board with transfers arranged from Tuapejat's ferry. Cash only south of Tuapejat, bring more rupiah than you think you need. Known places: Hollow Tree's Resort sits on Katiet beach with Lance's Right (HT's) in front and Lance's Left a short walk away, and Macaronis Resort is on the bay at Macaronis on North Pagai.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the South Mentawai guide.
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