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.

May: Monsoon Onset

The southwest monsoon establishes itself, with ideal wind plummeting to 10%. Onshore winds from S, SSW, and SW dominate (38.1% total), often blowing 20-40kph, creating choppy, messy surf. Swell shifts to the optimal directions—WSW (20.9%) and SW (12.9%)—but heights are small, averaging 0.5m with a period of 5.7s. Most waves are below 0.5m or in the 0.5-1m range. The rare window of north wind might clean up a weak south swell, but expect mostly poor quality. This is the start of the low season.