Telescopes seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (May - October)
Telescopes comes alive during the southeast monsoon. From May through October, the wind roses swing around to the offshore quadrant-ENE, E, ESE and SE-and the percentage of ideal, surfable wind climbs to 50-60%. At the same time, the South Indian Ocean storm track is firing, sending persistent long-period groundswell toward Indonesia. Average wave periods in the 13.7-14.5 second range are powerful, and average wave heights rise to 4-5ft (1.2-1.4m) with regular 5-6ft (1.5-2m) sets. The dominant swell direction is often SSW/SW rather than the preferred WSW-WNW window, but those long periods help the south energy wrap around the reef. Combined with the driest stretch of the year and bathwater temps around 29-30°C, this is the firing window for Telescopes.
Fair Surf Season (March - April & November)
The shoulder months are a mix of the dying northwest monsoon and the rising southeast trades. Ideal wind sits around 32-35% during March-April and 32% in November, with periods still healthy in the 13.0-13.7 second range. Swell energy is present, most often from SSW and SW, but wind direction is the deciding factor. When the morning land breeze locks in, the reef turns on; when westerly monsoon flow takes over, the surface gets lumpy and hard to read.
Low Surf Season (December - February)
The northwest monsoon is in full force from December through February, and it is hard to find a clean wave at Telescopes. Ideal wind percentages bottom out at 22-27%, with NW/WNW/NNW winds making up a large share of the observations. The swell is not absent-average heights hold around 3ft (1.0m) and periods stay in the 12.5-12.7 second range-but it is constantly chopped up by onshore and cross-onshore breezes. This is the quietest period for surf quality, although a lucky break in the monsoon can still produce a playful session on the longer-period SSW/SW pulses.