C loud 9
People visiting Siargao want to first
see
the perfect barreling wave then try
to surf it themselves. The wave can go
from three to 15 feet and even higher,
depending on the month and season.
If you’re looking for huge, challenging,
oh-my-goodness-I-hope-I-live-through-
this, adrenaline-pumped waves, go
between September and January. The
wave also breaks under sharp coral
reef, so unless you really know what
you’re doing, best to save this for when
you’ve skilled up.
Quiksilver
Quiksilver is right next to Cloud 9 and
is a right-hander wave (it breaks to
the right), though there are short lefts
sometimes. It seems like a similar wave
but is usually smaller but faster. Many
students have their lessons here if
Cloud 9 is too daunting. Don’t be fooled
though, when there are big sets, they
can be massive. It’s best to surf this
wave during mid to high tide, although
some surfers prefer to surf during low
tide when there are fewer surfers —
better wave shape also means it can be
more dangerous.
Dako break
Just off the island of Dako is a short
break that’s perfect for beginners. Like
other breaks in the island, the wave
breaks over deep coral reef. It’s a fun
and gentle wave with a spectacular
view when you’re taking a breather in
between sets. Most people go there
by boat and it’s best to surf there only
when the tide is high. The swell can be
small but can also become big during
the peak/big-swell season.
Cemetery
A little bit further east of Cloud 9 is
Cemetery — it’s right in front of the
General Luna Cemetery, thus the
name. It’s usually accessible by boat
but others prefer to paddle or stand-up
paddle all the way there (15 to 20
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Gimme a break!
So you want to surf? Elaine
Abonal tells us where and
how to have a swell time in
Siargao
minutes, depending on how fast and
strong you are). There are clean left-
and right-hander breaks there when
the winds are just right. It’s usually a
gentler wave and is good for beginners
when the size is right. However, it can
become as big as Cloud 9 and has bred
some of the top surfers of the island.
There are also fewer crowds here as it
takes more time and effort to get there.
Jacking Horse
It’s a fast right-hander wave and is
called the jacking horse because it
jacks at the peak really quickly. That
wave reforms on the inner reef and
becomes another great wave for
beginners. This breaks on shallow reef
and is best surfed during medium to
high tide. It usually breaks right and
there is a short left.
PHOTOS
PACO GUERRERO; MARK DIMALANTA
ON MODELS
RASH GUARDS BY FLUID SURF;
COLORFUL BIKINI BY RIP CURL; PRINTED BIKINI BY BILLABONG; (OPPOSITE PAGE) PINK DRESS BY
BILLABONG; BLUE BIKINI, MODEL'S OWN; SEASHELL BRACELETS BY PILARITO AND BULI (WWW.
SIARGAO-MASAYA.ORG); TUBE DRESS BY BILLABONG; STRAW BAG ON THE SIDE BY FLUID SURF
