West Sumbawa · Indonesia
Surfing Scar Reef
A left reef in West Sumbawa, Indonesia, for advanced and pro surfers.
Scar Reef is a left in Jelenga Bay, west Sumbawa, that bends around a finger of coral. The takeoff is steep and sucky, the middle section walls up and barrels depending on the day, and the inside finishes over shallow reef.
It picks up a lot of swell. Forecasts that leave Bali flat often mean head-high waves here. It also holds real size and keeps its shape above 10ft. Mid tide, SE trades and 4-8ft are the best conditions.
The bay has a black-sand beach and a few camps and losmen under the trees. The crowd is small and good. The last section is shallow, and if you lose your board in the middle of the reef, it's a long swim. Bring a shortboard and a step-up.
When to surf
Scar Reef
Scar Reef is at its best from May to September. Conditions it likes: SW swell, SE trades, mid tide.
May to September: Prime
Dry season standard: consistent swell, offshore mornings
June to July: Prime
The biggest swells, when Scar Reef and Super Suck work best
Oct: Good
Smaller and quieter, Lakey at its easiest
November to April: Quiet
Wet season: waves keep coming at Lakey, and some camps close
The year across Sumbawa
Waves near Scar Reef
Super Suck
8 kmWest Sumbawa · Left Reef · Pro
Yo-yo's
13 kmWest Sumbawa · Right Reef · Intermediate / Advanced
Sejorong
20 kmWest Sumbawa · Right Reef · Intermediate / Advanced
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Each wave has its village, decide which break you came for and sleep in front of it. Rantung/Sekongkang has the widest choice of rooms; Maluk town has the ATMs and shops. Everything books out when Supersuck lights up on a dry-season south swell.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the West Sumbawa guide.
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