Nipussi is an easy-going left reef break on Siberut Island in the Mentawai chain, set against a beautiful tropical backdrop. The wave is one of the more accessible breaks in the Mentawais, making it ideal for intermediate surfers who want to experience the islands' renowned water quality and scenery without the intensity of expert-level breaks. A great warm-up or cool-down spot during Mentawai charter trips.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
4/10
Access: Charter boat from Padang (~10hr) or speedboat (~4hr)
Nipussi is a reef break in Siberut, Mentawai, Indonesia, that mostly breaks left.
Nipussi picks up swell from the SSW round to the W, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. It starts working at around 0.9m and handles up to about 1.8m, with the sweet spot around 1.3 to 1.6m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Nipussi, and anything from the E round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
Nipussi is at its best around the mid to high tide, roughly 0.7m to 1.8m on the local chart.
The most reliable run of swell at Nipussi comes Apr to Oct. There's a second window in Nov to Mar too. Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
The water at Nipussi averages around 28°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 5/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (4/10) when it's on. Things to watch for: sharp, shallow reef (booties help).
The nearest airport on our list is PDG. From there you need a boat to reach the break (we estimate around $200 USD, but confirm with an operator). Charter boat from Padang (~10hr) or speedboat (~4hr).
The closest breaks we track are Hideaways (3.2 km), Kandui Left (3.6 km) and Burgerworld (4.9 km), handy when Nipussi isn't working.
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
🌊 Secret Mentawai left • Barrel opportunities • Less crowds
☠️ "No Kandui" • Shallow, heavy reef • Expert barrels only
🌊 Most exposed Mentawai • Low-season barrels • Sculpted right tubes
🌊 Playgrounds right • Short barrels, nice turns • Fun warm-up wave
🎯 Flawless rights • Precision swell angle • Mentawai crown jewel
🌊 Playgrounds fun right • Almond barrels • Two-turn combos