Surf the Earth

The dry season is the main surfing season & is approximately from April through to October. Most days have clear skies, with a temperature range of 25 to 37 deg. C; nights now are cooler & pleasant sea breezes. The on shore wind normally starts about 11 am. & drops of most afternoons 4 p.m. So both morning & afternoon surfing sessions are possible. The wet season is from November through to March, while the surf is less reliable, there are still waves to be had.

WAVES – the typical swell direction is southerly, it is large & good waves are to be had all around the bay. Cimaja river, which is located 60 – 100 mts, to the east of the normal take off point, the 6 – 8 ft. swell is providing good waves, with good barrels, with a possibility for long rides, 150 + mts. The waves in this part of West Java are really under-rated. Indo Surfer magazines like "Surf Time" have been starting safaris with photographers and pro-surfers in this area recently. There are waves here that are some of the best in Indonesia, and like any place else it's just timing.

The best-known surf spot in the region is CIMAJA. This is because most other surf breaks locations, have limited accommodation, in general surfers use Cimaja as their base, during their stay in the region, hiring "Bis Angot"s (the blue bus' whom some call a "Bemo') for day trips to other spots. The Cimaja village is about 1 km from the SAMUDRA BEACH Hotel

There are some surf shops & board repairing facilities in the Cimaja area, but these are limited. Yes you will get leg ropes & wax, but not "fin keys" or "ding repair kits", sunscreens are all imported, so most shops can not now afford to carry them, so bring sufficient for you holiday. Figure out what size surf you really want to ride and bring the right equipment. My surf quiver ranged from 6'6", 7'0", 7'6", & 8'0" and I used every one of them regularly depending where I surfed. You may think you can surf big waves with a small board, but really you're only fooling yourself. You want to surf big fast waves bring that gun because you won't regret it when you're surfing and everyone is watching.

Travelers should bring a small first aid kit that contains the following items, 1/ anti diarrhea tablets, 2/ pain – fever relief tablets, 3/ malarial tablets, 4/ small dressings for cuts etc. 5/ hydrogen peroxide at 3 - 5% concentration is a good fluid for cleaning wounds or coral cuts, 6/ a soft tooth brush with HO/2 is better for getting the spikes of sea urchins out of your feet, 7/ some "wet" & "dry" antiseptic dressings & medicine. The use of reverse charge phone cards & or by operator connection, has almost completely disappeared with the collapse of the Rupiah , so be prepared to spend lots of money at the "Wartel" (shop telephone) to call home or your friends. The use of email is becoming more widely available, so look for hotels etc. This package of information has been provided, in the interests of answering queries from prospective travelers to the Indonesian Island of Java, notably West Java (Sunda Province).