Manangat - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The northeast monsoon establishes a reliable offshore wind regime from the north quadrant, combining with frequent north-northeast swell to deliver clean, organized surf. While the swell direction is not directly optimal for this southwest-facing beach, refraction and sheltering can wrap the energy into the bay, producing fun to solid waves. Peak months see average swell heights of 1.1-1.2m with periods around 8s, offering punchy, rideable conditions. November stands out with the highest ideal wind frequency (39%) and consistent swell, making it the apex of the season.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months bridge the monsoon regimes. April sees a rapid decline in both swell and wind quality, with average heights dropping to 0.5m and periods fading to 5.9s, limiting surf to small, groveling waves on the rare offshore wind day. September revives the south swell window, with increasing SW and WSW swell (44.7% of total), but the wind shifts onshore from the south, reducing quality. Look for windows of northerly wind for clean, fun-sized surf as the ocean transitions.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

The southwest monsoon locks in strong onshore winds from S and SSW, ruining wave quality despite the presence of abundant south swell. During these months, swell from the optimal SW and WSW directions dominates (up to 49.2% in August), with heights averaging 0.8-1.1m and periods in the 6-7s range. However, the persistent onshore flow creates choppy, messy conditions. Only early morning light wind windows or brief shifts to north wind offer short-lived, rideable moments. This is the low season for quality surf at Manangat.

August: Maximum Swell, Minimum Quality

August brings the highest average swell height of the year at 1.1m, with a period of 7.2s. Swell from SW (49.2%) and WSW (29.9%) is abundant, with waves in the 1-1.5m and 1.5-2m ranges accounting for a combined 36%. But wind is the enemy: ideal wind drops to 9%, and SSW wind alone blows 37.4% of the time, often at 20-40kph. The result is powerful but completely blown-out waves—almost unsurfable. This is the absolute low point of the year for quality.