Manangat • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

October through March is the most reliable stretch of surf for Manangat. The northeast monsoon, driven by the Siberian High over mainland Asia, funnels offshore flow through the N, NNE, NE and ENE quadrants and creates the cleanest surface conditions of the year. Average swell heights run from about 2.5ft to 4ft (0.7m to 1.2m), with periods of 7.2 to 8.0s, and ideal offshore wind days occur between 34 and 39 percent of the time. The dominant wave directions are N, NNE and NNW, which is not the perfect angle for a south-west-facing bay, but the combination of consistent energy, clean wind and cooler water makes this the most rewarding stretch of the season. The standout pulses arrive when strong northeasterly monsoonal surges push swell through the Luzon Strait and the direction picks up a bit more northwest or west component.

Fair Surf Season (September)

September is the classic transition month. The southwest monsoon is still alive in the South China Sea, delivering around 47 percent of wave energy from the favored S/SSW/SW/WSW quadrants, while the first pulses of NE monsoon wind begin to build toward the end of the month. Average surf height sits around 3ft (0.9m) with a 7.1s period, and ideal wind days climb to about 20 percent. It is a raw, tropical month with heavy rain and a lingering typhoon threat, but when the wind rounds to the north after a typhoon passes, Manangat can light up with clean, direct southwest swell.

Low Surf Season (April - August)

From April through August the northeast monsoon fades away and the southwest monsoon takes over. This brings the right swell direction for Manangat, with SW and WSW lobes dominating the rose from June onward, but it also brings persistent onshore S/SSW/SW winds that chop up the surface. Ideal wind percentages fall to between 9 and 19 percent, wave periods shorten to 5.7-7.2s, and rainfall climbs from 1.3mm per day in April to a typhoon-fueled peak of 18.2mm per day in August. April is the smallest month of the year with average waves of just 1.5-2ft (0.5m), while August can produce 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m) lines but often in messy, stormy conditions. Expect to fight the wind and the rain unless the monsoon trough shifts offshore or a tropical cyclone passes at the right distance.