Five Islands - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April, November, December)

These months strike the perfect balance between favorable offshore winds and a healthy dose of long-period swell from the southern Indian Ocean. April sees the transition between monsoons, with the northeast monsoon weakening and the southwest monsoon building, bringing a mix of light offshore winds from the west and consistent swell trains from the SSW and SW. November and December are the true gems, as the northeast monsoon sets in and the westerly wind belt shifts south, delivering clean, offshore conditions with a high percentage of swell from the optimal W, WSW, SW, and SSW directions. Swell heights average a solid 1.2-1.4m with periods often exceeding 10 seconds, producing powerful, rippable waves at Five Islands.

Fair Surf Season (January, February, March, May, October)

During these months, conditions become more variable. January through March still enjoy excellent offshore wind frequencies (48-58%), but the swell direction shifts to the east and southeast, which are not ideal for this southeast-facing reef. Waves from the E and ESE are often short-period and tend to close out, though occasional west swell pulses can sneak in. May and October are transition months where the monsoon shifts; winds become less reliable (34-38% ideal) and often onshore, but the swell direction improves, with a higher percentage of SSW and SW swell. So you'll have to pick your days carefully—look for windows of clean west wind and a solid SSW swell.

Low Surf Season (June, July, August, September)

The southwest monsoon dominates the summer months, bringing strong, consistent onshore winds from the east and southeast that ruin the wave quality. Although the swell size peaks at 1.6-1.8m and periods are long (10-11 seconds), the swell direction is almost exclusively from the SSE and S, which is side-to-direct onshore for this SE-facing spot. Combined with only 32-40% offshore wind, the surf is often choppy, messy, and blown out. The rare good day comes when a west swell wraps in under a temporary high-pressure ridge, but these are few and far between. Summer is best left for other activities.

August: Similar to July, Slightly Smaller

August mirrors July with average swell height at 1.7m and period 10.7 seconds, but the ideal wind percentage dips further to 32%. Swell direction is overwhelmingly SSE (73.1%) and S (18.6%), with almost no contribution from optimal W-SSW directions. Winds remain predominantly onshore from the southeast quadrant. The result is a consistent, powerful swell that is frequently blown out. The few clean windows occur when a late-season westerly low pushes a SW swell through, and the wind goes offshore. On those rare occasions, expect pumping waves in the 1.5-2.5m range with incredible shape. Otherwise, it's a month for the dedicated surfers who don't mind a bit of chop.