Ekas seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (April - October)
The wave data for Ekas shows a recurring theme: the raw open-ocean energy almost always arrives from the SSW/SW quadrant, while the N/NW directions - often considered the theoretical best for the bay - remain absent in the statistics. This means the surf at Ekas is largely dependent on refracted Indian Ocean groundswell wrapping around the headland, and the quality is decided by the wind. When the dry southeast monsoon locks in across the Indonesian archipelago, Ekas shifts into gear. The dominant S/SW groundswell trains from the Southern Indian Ocean arrive with 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m) of clean, well-organized energy and periods of 13-14 seconds. At the same time, the persistent ESE-to-SE trade winds groom the bay, and the data shows the highest percentage of ideal surfing conditions of the year. April, May, September and October are especially good: swell strength is solid but not out of control, winds are lighter, and rain is scarce. June through August brings the biggest averages of 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) and can still be very good, though the trades are stronger and can add texture to the surface.
Fair Surf Season (March & November)
These transition months sit on the edge of the monsoon pattern. March is the final gasp of the wet season, with the sea state recovering as westerly winds begin to fade; the SSW/SW swell is still in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range with long 13s periods, but only around 42 percent of the time does the wind cooperate fully. November is the mirror image: the Indian Ocean remains active and there are plenty of fun, punchy waves in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range, and the wind is clean more often than not, but the northwest monsoon is creeping in and rain becomes more frequent.
Low Surf Season (December - February)
The northwest monsoon produces the least favorable stretch for surf quality at Ekas. Swell averages do not collapse - they remain around 4ft (1.2m) - and periods stay in the 12-13s range. However, the wind regime turns unfavorable with persistent W and WNW winds that create lumpy, sectiony, onshore conditions. Combined with the highest rainfall of the year, rivers run into the bay and visibility drops. Wave heights are often rideable, but the quality and consistency of clean-surf windows suffer significantly.