Bingin - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April, September - November)

The transition months of April and the spring-like September through November deliver the most consistent recipe for world-class surf at Bingin. During these months, the Indian Ocean is active, sending powerful, long-period groundswells from the SSW to SW directions. While these swells are not directly on the nose for this northwest-facing reef, they wrap around the Bukit Peninsula with incredible energy, producing hollow, rippable waves in the 1.5-2.5m range. The real magic, however, is the wind. Persistent southeasterly trade winds (ESE, SE, SSE) blow offshore, grooming each face to perfection. This is when you can score glass-like conditions with 13-14 second intervals, often for days on end.

Fair Surf Season (May - August)

The heart of the dry season brings a double-edged sword. Swell heights ramp up to an average of 2.0-2.2m and periods stretch to 14 seconds – the ocean is literally pumping with SSW groundswell. However, the southeast trades can become too strong, with wind speeds frequently exceeding 20-30kph, especially from June to July. This creates challenging, bumpy conditions on the face, even though the offshore direction is ideal. The result is powerful but often wind-affected surf, where only the most exposed or sheltered corners of the reef clean up. If you time a lull in the trades, the reward is epic, but consistency drops to the 39-61% ideal wind range.

Low Surf Season (December - March)

The wet season (monsoon) dominates from December through March, shifting the wind regime to a westerly quarter. While the swell remains solid (averaging 1.6-1.7m at 12-13s), the onshore winds from W, WNW, and NW ruin the surface texture, turning even the most powerful SSW swells into choppy, blown-out messes. Ideal wind percentages plummet to 19-33%. Occasional breaks in the monsoon low-pressure systems can bring brief windows of offshore ESE flow, but they are rare and short-lived. This is the time to find other spots or enjoy the off-days. Only the biggest, most long-period swells (15s+) can overcome the onshore chop to produce heavy, albeit rough, barrels.

May: Building Power, Consistent Offshore Flow

May sees a jump in average swell height to 1.9m with an average period of 14.1s. The swell direction shifts slightly more southerly: SSW (44.8%) and S (31.0%) dominate, with a notable increase from SSE (11.4%). The wind remains strongly offshore from the ESE (55.4%) and E (17.5%), though speeds are increasing – 25.7% of winds are in the 20-30kph range. This means the surf is powerful and consistent, but the trade winds can become gusty. Ideal wind is still at 61%, but the stronger gusts can create light wind bumps. The waves themselves are firing: 1.5-2.5m sets are common, offering hollow, fast barrels. Early mornings are usually the cleanest before the trades peak. May is a heavy-hitting month for experienced surfers.