The Surf 
Macaronis - 5 min by Speedboat
Macaronis, more commonly referred to as Macas, is a mechanical left-hander that has been described by many as being the most high performance wave in existence.
In glassy or off-shore conditions 4 - 6 second barrels are managable from the take off, while the inside section is a bit like a skaters half-pipe where you can do countless numbers of Rio's, tail-slides, floaters, airs, cut-backs, or for example CLICK HERE to see one of the best maneuvers pulled recently at Macas by Jordy Smith.
Macas is such a fun wave to surf even in onshore conditions and is one of the few reef breaks in the world that continues to break well in all tides. Macas holds from 2 – 8 feet and technically doesn’t get any bigger than this; it just becomes more hollower and rounder, and when it gets big it is some times referred to as 'Mini Chopes'.
The greatest thing about Macas is its consistency, and that it breaks slightly different at each stage of the tide with varying West - South swell directions. But ideally double over head SW ground swell is best for the wave to line up like a machine all the way down the reef. Macas is surfable all day long in a variety of on-shore and off-shore conditions, in fact some actually prefer Macas to have an on-shore SW breeze on it, as it makes the wave so damn fun and rippable.
In 2003, Waves Magazine conducted a survey pole of 50 of the world's best surfers and industry figureheads in order to rank the world's best waves purely for their enjoyment value. Macas ranked 1 in the world in that survey. In fact 76% of all surveyed, "goofy and natural footers agreed; Macaroni's is the funnest wave they have ever ridden" (Waves magazine, December 2003 edition).
Our advice: Keep a watchful eye on the line up, you may find only a couple of guys surfing it to themselves around midday. Also keep a look out for storms passing by, they may turn the surf to crud for 15 - 45 minutes as they hit, but once everybody gets out of the water there will probably only be a couple of guys left sharing the off-shore conditions that follow.
Above: Some shots taken of us and our guests surfing Macaronis in 2009 (Move curser to top of screen and click on photo to begin).
Macas Right
5 min speedboat ride from Macaronis Resort
Macas Right becomes a quality wave in a thick South swell with Northerly winds and a medium to high tide. It is not surfed or photographed often and basically just sits in the background of Macaronis being the main stage that people come to visit. Last year, I even surprised myself, I wanted to go surf Macaronis, but some new guests weren't quite confident enough yet for the left and asked if I'd go surf the Right with them. I was totally under-gunned on my 6'0 on a solid 6 foot day, there were some smaller ones, but the bigger ones looked absolutely incredible and reeling off a couple of hundred meters down the reef. The other guys got some nice barrels and some really wally faces.
Macas Right is often at its best when Macaronis is also firing, and therefore it often gets ignored. So if you would like to surf on your own whilst staying at Macaronis Resort or just with a couple of others, be different, go surf the right and you might be surprised with what you find (check with our guides first - the Right does need more specific swell, wind and tidal conditions to be breaking well, but with a northerly wind it generally always has a fun wave on it).
Bat Cave
45 min north from the resort via speedboat
Another option for those seeking a long mellow, uncrowded right hand wave is the Bat Cave. This wave breaks for a few hundred meters down the edge of a tiny deserted island that is also a great spot to have a swim or do some snorkeling. In 2009 we surfed the Bat Cave more regularly, sometimes visiting for a day trip by long boat and sometimes doing a day trip on the Indies Explorer.
Bat Cave picks up a lot of swell and can be bigger than Macas being more exposed to the open ocean, especially if there is a bit of westerly direction in it. The wave occasionally dishes up a little barrel and offers long racy walls, but generally it is a classic point break; definitely need some paddling fitness when it gets bigger but most of the time we have surfed it around 4 - 6 feet.
Accross the channel, high cliffs provide a place for those who are into cliff jumping. Bat Caves is a great alrounder that has fun long waves and is equally as apealing for non-surfers to take in the spectacular surroundings and have a picnic on the deserted beach.
Photo Above: Erin surfing Bat Cave 2009
Above: Bat Cave on a glassy day, with long walls, great for a long board.
Above: Bat Cave breaks off a tiny coconut fringed island just off the coast of North Pagai.
Greenbush
40 min south from Macas Resort via speedboat
A very hollow left hand tube that can either lock you in with no exit, or you may be lucky enough to make a mind blowing tube before negotiating a safe exit off the wave. You really have to pick the right waves to paddle for, but when you pick a good one, this is definitely a tube ride you'll never forget. Not too shallow, very photogenic, and an excellent wave for those willing to charge.
Remember the epic barrel Dayne Reynolds scored in Young Guns 2? CLICK HERE to see more epic footage of Greenbush surfed by Red Bull Team in 2009... this was an epic session, we actually went around to surf it this day but low and behold the pros were already out there ripping it apart, so we went back to surf Macas which was also absolutely smoking that morning.
If you want to surf the Bush during your stay, you need to time your trip on a new or full moon as Greenbush needs a big high tide to break properly. Usually early season, April - May (and a few weeks either side) seems to be the best time when winds are lighter but the bigger South swells are starting to arrive.
Hope to get some waves with you at the 'Bush' in 2010..!!
Above: Mark @ Greenbush 2009
Photo above: Chris McQueen Surfing at Greenbush
Silabu Left
10 min north via speedboat
Silabu is surfable on all tides and is a favorite for guests that are seeking a mellower left-hander and prefer to surf alone. It is an excellent wave for those just starting out surfing reef breaks, or for those who would like to surf with just a few people in order to find their feet and boost their confidence level before heading around to Macas. But dont under-estimate this wave, it still gets big and sneaker sets can roll through catching you out occasionally. But generally with just a few guys in the water the atmosphere is mellow and you can take as many waves as you want, expending more energy than at Macas too because you need to do a bit more paddling here.
Silabu is more protected from the southerly wind than Macaronis, and as Macas can begin to turn on-shore mid morning, Silabu Left can remain off-shore for a another hour or so. It also handles a southerly side shore breeze quite well and still can be super fun in these conditions. Although not that long, it is a great wave to have close by located on the other side of the headland, meaning boat guests never surf here as it is too remotely located from Macaronis (we go through the tidal lagoon to get there). So long as Macas is breaking 4 feet or bigger, Silabu should be also breaking.
Above: Grant packing some speed off a bottom turn at Silabu Left October 2009
Above: Big Silabu September 2009
Bowls Right
15 minutes south from resort via speedboat
This one Andrew has been surfing now and then with guests during 2009. Nice little right hand tube, not that long but a fun little cover up before exiting into the channel. Another great little option to have around the corner. Also a couple of other options in this area....
Above: Bowls Right, Bowls & Pigsy looking on, tide getting a bit low in this shot though!!
Hollow Tree's (HT's)
Accessible on Indies Explorer
Hollow Trees, more commonly known as 'HT's' (or Lances Right), was voted the 7th most enjoyable wave in the world by Waves magazine (December edition, 2003). It was also ranked the 12th most perfect wave in the world by Tracks Magazine, 2001.
HT's, a fast, perfect, barreling right-hander, is a dream wave for natural footers but can prove to be difficult for goofies. From the boat HT's looks magical, long grinding cylindrical tubes that appear to stay open all the way before breaking into a deep channel. However this is not always the case, and one should be warned of sneaker sets on big days and a particular section in the reef dubbed the 'Surgeons Table'. It takes experience and local wave knowledge to know where to sit in the line-up and anticipate the right waves to paddle for. Our experienced guides will be able to provide you with this local knowledge to ensure that your HT's experience is one to remember for only the right reasons.
Lances left
Accessible on Indies Explorer
Lances Left is a long, magnificent lefthander that is regarded as one of the most consistent and user-friendly breaks in the Mentawai's. There are several sections which can be surfed on various tides, which makes this wave reasonably crowd friendly as the pack is usually spread out. At small to medium size, Lances Left offers long racy walls with occasional barrel sections. On larger swells the wave becomes more intense and generally less hollow, however long rides and steep walls provide plenty of speed to unleash various carves on the face; guaranteed to get the adrenalin pumping.
Above: Bootsy @ Lances Left 2009
Above: Lances Left line up shot from the beach.
Bintangs
Accessible on Indies Explorer
Bintangs is a short right located on the northern side of the bay near Lances left. This is one of the few breaks that is suited to northerly winds, and on a decent swell provides a short and intense barrel. There is also occasionally a nice peaking left located on the northern side of this headland that can provide an alternative to Lances Left in larger swells.
Rags left
Accessible on Indies Explorer
Rag's Left is a long barreling wave that turns on during large southwest swells. If you are lucky enough to catch Rags at 8 ft or bigger, don't forget to shoot a photo of the lineup, it is an extraordinary sight, one that you are unlikely to see too often. Rags Left is very dependant on swell direction, tide and wind, but when all of these factors fall into place, you could find yourself and just a few of your friends pulling into massive caverns which start from an outside boil, eventually mellowing further down the line into a large open face that can be ridden for a further 150m or more. This place has been surfed at 15 foot plus, so a big wave board is a must at size.
Rags Right
Accessible on Indies Explorer
The crew from Sarina Koat surf charters describes Rag's right as "a formidable opponent to your health, safety, and well-being" - and that certainly isn't far off the mark. At low tide forget it, unless you choose to surf the outside section, which can occasionally offer some alternative on a northerly wind. At high tide though and on the right swell, Rag's Right can offer perhaps some of the thickest, hollowest tubes in the Mentawai's. The wave grinds down a section of reef that is famous for two coral heads situated at the kick out point - always in the back of a surfers mind whilst locked inside the tube and looking to negotiate a safe exit.
Thunders
Accessible on Indies Explorer
Thunders is one of the most consistent breaks in the Mentawai's and is surfable on all tides. Higher tides usually offer racy tube sections over a shallow inside reef shelf breaking close to the island, whilst lower tides offer a forceful shoulder further out the back. In smaller south swells the top section of the reef can turn on offering long hollow barrels. Generally Thunders is an excellent option in smaller swells and can handle crowds due to there being a number of take off spots.
Above: A nice shot of Jamie Moran at Thunders, April 2009
Roxies........another fun righthander located closer to Sikakap. Photos coming soon.
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