Ohama seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (September - November)
The autumn months are when the western Pacific truly wakes up. Lingering summer heat fuels tropical cyclone formation, while early extratropical lows push down from the north, creating a consistent supply of E/ESE/SE/SSE groundswell for Ohama's SE-facing bight. Average surf heights hover around 5ft (1.5-1.6m), and periods climb from 8 to nearly 9s, producing punchy, hollow, rideable surf. Water temperatures are still warm, ranging from 21.6 to 26.1°C, and the strengthening NW monsoon begins to groom the swell with offshore winds. It is the most reliable mix of size, direction, and surface texture of the year.
Fair Surf Season (December - April)
Winter is all about raw Pacific energy, but the direction is often wrong for Ohama. Average surf heights peak at 6ft (1.8m) as W- and NE-dominant swells fill the charts, yet the ideal E/ESE/SE/SSE window remains a smaller fraction of the wave rose. The saving grace is the powerful W/WNW offshore wind regime, which can turn those awkward swells into clean, lined-up surf whenever an E/ESE component wraps around the coast. Spring gradually brings more E/SE swell, but the wind becomes mixed and the size slowly drops. Expect cold water between 15.8 and 18.9°C and changeable conditions, but with patience, there are standout days.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
Summer is the quiet season at Ohama. Average surf heights fall to around 4-4.5ft (1.3m), and the swell rose swings to the south and southwest, with S/SSW/SW directions dominating. These swells are poorly aligned with the SE-facing coast and often struggle to break with real power. The summer monsoon adds frequent WSW and SW winds, creating lumpy, bumpy surface conditions. The best surf comes in short windows: small E/ESE/SE pulses during morning offshore breezes, or late-summer typhoon swells in August. Water temperatures become wonderfully warm, but the waves are generally grovelers unless a tropical system aligns. For quality, pick your spots and be ready to surf small boards.