surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide

This text chronicles a surfing expedition to the disputed territory of Western Sahara, currently administered by Morocco, highlighting the region's unexpected potential for quality waves despite its arid location on the edge of the  Sahara Desert . The authors detail their quest for uncrowded spots, notably finding excellent right point breaks near Dakhla, with January being the optimal time f...

This narrative chronicles the  socio-political evolution  of Eastern Samar, detailing its transition from a dangerous, insurgent-controlled "Wild East" to a  thriving surf destination . By comparing a perilous expedition in the late 1990s with a modern filming project, the authors highlight how  infrastructure investment  and improved governance have dismantled the influence of local gue...

This narrative recounts a  pioneering 1992 expedition  to Siargao Island, detailing how a small group of surfers stumbled upon and named the world-renowned wave known as  Cloud 9 . The text transitions from a logistical account of  typhoon-season exploration  and the discovery of perfect surfing conditions to a somber reflection on the island's mysterious past, specifically the  legacy of Mike...

This text examines the unique intersection of  geopolitical tension and surf culture  on the island of Taiwan. It chronicles how decades of  strict martial law  and coastal surveillance initially prevented the development of board sports, leaving Taiwan’s world-class waves largely undiscovered until the late 20th century. The narrative highlights the  seasonal contrast  between consistent monsoon...

This narrative explores an adventurous surfing expedition to the volcanic nation of  São Tomé and Príncipe , a former Portuguese colony historically defined by its  lush plantation agriculture  and cacao production. The authors navigate the challenges of the island's  dilapidated infrastructure  and colonial remnants to uncover pristine, previously unsurveyed waves, such as those found near a...

This narrative chronicles an exploratory expedition to South Korea’s  Jeju Island , where a team of surfers sought to document  unridden waves  during the peak of the  Pacific typhoon season . Facing initial hurdles such as language barriers and expensive accommodation, the group bypassed luxury hotels in favour of a  traditional minbak , which allowed them to immerse themselves in the local cultu...

This travelogue follows an expedition through Sierra Leone to document the country’s  emerging surf culture  and discover  unmapped waves  in remote coastal regions. The journey begins on the Freetown Peninsula, where the team engages with the local  Bureh Surf Club , a community-led initiative fostering tourism and sport through board rentals and lessons. The narrative then shifts to a more rugge...

This account details an exploratory expedition to Oman, highlighting the Sultanate as a  peaceful and stable sanctuary  for surfers amidst a historically volatile region. The narrative follows a team as they navigate extreme desert heat to reach  Masirah Island , where they discover powerful waves and a unique local culture defined by vintage Land Rovers and a nearby military history. Moving to th...

In this travel narrative, a group of explorers ventures into the remote regions of  Myanmar  to discover unmapped  surfing locations  during the dry season. Despite the country’s lack of infrastructure and  strict legal prohibitions  against foreign visitors on certain islands, the team successfully reaches Cheduba Island by boat. Their expedition is made possible through the  intervention of a lo...

Seeking out the powerful  winter groundswells  of the North Atlantic, a team of explorers traveled to Mauritania to document the country’s untapped surfing potential. Their journey progressed from the expanding capital of Nouakchott into the  harsh Saharan terrain  of the Nouadhibou Peninsula, a region defined by its history of shipwrecks and territorial conflict. Success for the expedition depend...

This text traces the transformation of the Maldives from a  historically Buddhist kingdom  and British protectorate into a  premier global surfing destination . It outlines how the government strategically shifted the economy from tuna fishing toward  exclusive high-end tourism , deliberately isolating visitors from the local population to maintain social and religious boundaries. The narrative hi...

This narrative recounts a  pioneering surf expedition  to the remote Barren Islands off the west coast of Madagascar, a region historically uninhabited due to its  harsh environment and lack of resources . The authors detail the logistical challenges of the journey, including navigating treacherous roads and collaborating with the  indigenous Vezo people  and environmental NGOs to establish a base...

This narrative chronicles a surf expedition to  Robertsport, Liberia , a destination where the  natural beauty of world-class waves  intersects with a  turbulent political history . The authors contrast the country's origins as a 19th-century refuge for  freed American slaves  with the subsequent  decades of civil war  and the brutal regimes of figures like Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor. By vi...

This narrative details a surfing expedition to  Pulau Biak , a remote island in Indonesia’s Papua Province that is defined by its  World War II military history  and modern accessibility via its strategic airport. The text explores the  logistical and social complexities  of the region, noting that while the island offers consistent Pacific swells and diverse coral reef waves, visitors must naviga...

While the popular Indian Ocean side of Indonesia dominates the global surf scene, this text explores the  Pacific coastline of West Papua , a region defined by its  reverse seasonal swell  and distinct lack of crowds. Beyond the pursuit of waves, the author highlights how  geographical isolation and religious differences  have led to significant neglect from the central government, resulting in  d...

This text chronicles a  surf exploration mission  to the North Maluku region of Indonesia, a remote area historically famous for the  spice trade  but long forgotten by the modern world. The narrative contrasts the historical significance of the "Spice Islands" with their current status as a  secluded frontier  for surfers seeking uncrowded waves far from the commercial hubs of Bali and...

This text provides a comprehensive guide to  Papua Province , specifically the capital city of Jayapura and its surrounding coastline, for intrepid travellers and surfers. It balances a detailed description of the  seasonal surfing conditions  and the logistical benefits of boat travel with a serious exploration of the region's  complex socio-political climate . The author highlights the tensi...

This narrative chronicles a pioneering  maritime expedition  to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a remote archipelago that serves as one of the world's final  frontiers for surf exploration . The author details the geographical and cultural tapestry of the region, noting the  ancient indigenous lineages  that have remained isolated for millennia, including the famously uncontacted residents of...

This text chronicles a unique  surf exploration  trip to Diu Island and the surrounding Gujarat state in India, a region with a deep history as a former  Portuguese colony  until its incorporation into India in 1961. A diverse group of surfers journeyed to this area, which was known to be historically un-surfed, to seek out rideable waves during the hot  pre-monsoon season . The explorers successf...

This travelogue details an exploration of the surf potential near Jacmel, Haiti, a historic French colonial port and a vital destination known for its annual  Carnival festival  and distinctive art scene. The area, particularly the seaside district of Kabik, is identified as a consistent surfing location, benefiting from  seasonal tradewinds  that generate reliable swell on the  coral reefs . Alth...

The surfEXPLORE team embarked on a journey to the  least-visited area of Haiti , the far northwest Atlantic coast, during the  winter north swell season  to seek out unridden waves. Their expedition involved a challenging drive through a sparsely populated and dry region, ultimately leading to the discovery of promising  rivermouth setups  and a  reef break wave  that they were likely the first to...

The account details a surf expedition along the largely unexplored  south coast of Haiti , an area receiving consistent swell but lacking any established surf culture or information. The surfEXPLORE Group navigated to remote locations like Grosse Caye and Ile á Vache, where they discovered  excellent surfing conditions  on a left point break but encountered logistical hurdles, notably an  engine s...

The source recounts the journey of the surfEXPLORE Group to Gabon, Central Africa, with the primary objective of surfing the rarely visited  point breaks in the far south at Mayumba . Due to the challenging logistics—including a car crash sidelining their initial contact, the need for a long drive through the  vast equatorial forest , and the necessity of navigating the French-speaking region know...

This excerpt from  "surfEXPLORE Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide"  chronicles the challenging journey of  John Seaton Callahan and The surfEXPLORE Group  to find waves in the remote volcanic archipelago of Comoros, near Madagascar. The narrative highlights the extreme difficulty of travel and the  near-total lack of general tourism , largely attributed to the islands' history of politic...

The surfEXPLORE Podcast, Episode 3, CHINA Hainan Island, surfing in the south China Sea with The surfEXPLORE Group - point waves and beachbreaks, swell generated by the northeast monsoon, source materials from the new book surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide from Schiffer Publishing. These excerpts recount various  surf exploration projects  undertaken by the "surfEXPLORE...