St Leu is one of the world's best left-hand barrels—a fast, hollow reef break on Réunion Island that produces some of the most intense tubes in the Indian Ocean. The wave is world-class, but the risk is extreme: Réunion has the highest shark attack rate on Earth, and surfing has been heavily restricted. When conditions align, St Leu delivers jaw-dropping perfection, but the shadow of danger looms over every session. Surfing's ultimate risk-reward equation.
Water temp
24°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
9/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Walk out from the town of St Leu.
Peak: May-Sep
Secondary: Apr, Oct
Winter SW swells are the most reliable.
Verified by Data analysis
How well swell angle matches the spot
Wave height in the ideal range
Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.
Offshore/glassy conditions